Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Kenai, AK?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.1% of gross income.

Kenai rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alaska state estimate).

Kenai median rent
$1,480/mo
Bartender salary (Alaska)
$39,346/yr
Rent as % of income
45.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,279, and the 30% rule supports up to $984/mo in rent. Kenai's median rent of $1,480 exceeds that threshold by $496/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 78.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bartender salary

Declared bartender pay sits below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in most US cities. Actual tip income in high-volume bars and fine-dining can push real take-home substantially higher. At the national-average declared bartender salary, the 30% rule supports about $878 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Alaska cities have lower median rent than Kenai, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Anchorage, AK
$1,329/mo (40.5% of income)
Anchorage, AK
$1,288/mo (39.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kenai

View full rent data for Kenai, AK →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Kenai, AK?

Median rent in Kenai is $1,480 a month. A typical bartender in Alaska earns about $39,346 a year, which makes that rent 45.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bartender afford in Kenai?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Alaska (~$39,346/yr) supports up to $984 a month in rent. Kenai's current median rent is $1,480/mo, which is $496/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Kenai?

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a bartender in Alaska works roughly 78.2 hours a month to cover Kenai's median rent of $1,480.

Where is rent cheaper than Kenai for a bartender?

Nearby Alaska cities with lower median rent include Anchorage ($1,329/mo), Anchorage ($1,288/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Alaska state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Kenai, AK. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.