Can A Bartender Afford Rent in North Pole, AK?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55% of gross income.

North Pole rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alaska state estimate).

North Pole median rent
$1,802/mo
Bartender salary (Alaska)
$39,346/yr
Rent as % of income
55%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,279, and the 30% rule supports up to $984/mo in rent. North Pole's median rent of $1,802 exceeds that threshold by $818/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 95.3 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 North Pole, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Fairbanks, AK
$1,796/mo (54.8% of income)
Fairbanks, AK
$1,794/mo (54.7% of income)
Fairbanks, AK
$1,790/mo (54.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for North Pole

View full rent data for North Pole, AK

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in North Pole, AK?

Median rent in North Pole is $1,802 a month. A typical bartender in Alaska earns about $39,346 a year, which makes that rent 55% 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 North Pole?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Alaska (~$39,346/yr) supports up to $984 a month in rent. North Pole's current median rent is $1,802/mo, which is $818/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a bartender in Alaska works roughly 95.3 hours a month to cover North Pole's median rent of $1,802.

Where is rent cheaper than North Pole for a bartender?

Nearby Alaska cities with lower median rent include Fairbanks ($1,796/mo), Fairbanks ($1,794/mo), Fairbanks ($1,790/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 North Pole, AK. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.