Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Iowa City, IA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.1% of gross income.
Iowa City rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).
About rent and a truck driver salary
Truck driver pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Because many drivers can base anywhere along their route, the home-city rent decision has an outsized effect on take-home. At the national-average driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,418 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range and which push it out of reach.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Iowa cities have lower median rent than Iowa City, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Iowa City
View full rent data for Iowa City, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a truck driver afford rent in Iowa City, IA?
Median rent in Iowa City is $1,308 a month. A typical truck driver in Iowa earns about $52,173 a year, which makes that rent 30.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a truck driver afford in Iowa City?
Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in Iowa (~$52,173/yr) supports up to $1,304 a month in rent. Iowa City's current median rent is $1,308/mo, which is $4/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in Iowa City?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a truck driver in Iowa works roughly 52.1 hours a month to cover Iowa City's median rent of $1,308.
Where is rent cheaper than Iowa City for a truck driver?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include West Des Moines ($1,304/mo), Urbandale ($1,298/mo), Bettendorf ($1,295/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.