Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Austin, AR?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.2% of gross income.

Austin rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Austin median rent
$1,123/mo
Bartender salary (Arkansas)
$29,158/yr
Rent as % of income
46.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,430, and the 30% rule supports up to $729/mo in rent. Austin's median rent of $1,123 exceeds that threshold by $394/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 80.1 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 Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Austin, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

North Little Rock, AR
$1,122/mo (46.2% of income)
Jonesboro, AR
$1,117/mo (46% of income)
Hot Springs, AR
$1,117/mo (46% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Austin

View full rent data for Austin, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Austin, AR?

Median rent in Austin is $1,123 a month. A typical bartender in Arkansas earns about $29,158 a year, which makes that rent 46.2% 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 Austin?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Arkansas (~$29,158/yr) supports up to $729 a month in rent. Austin's current median rent is $1,123/mo, which is $394/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $14 an hour, a bartender in Arkansas works roughly 80.1 hours a month to cover Austin's median rent of $1,123.

Where is rent cheaper than Austin for a bartender?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include North Little Rock ($1,122/mo), Jonesboro ($1,117/mo), Hot Springs ($1,117/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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