Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Fayetteville, AR?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 70.8% of gross income.

Fayetteville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Fayetteville median rent
$1,720/mo
Bartender salary (Arkansas)
$29,158/yr
Rent as % of income
70.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,430, and the 30% rule supports up to $729/mo in rent. Fayetteville's median rent of $1,720 exceeds that threshold by $991/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 122.7 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 Fayetteville, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Gentry, AR
$1,719/mo (70.7% of income)
Farmington, AR
$1,715/mo (70.6% of income)
Hot Springs Village, AR
$1,713/mo (70.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fayetteville

View full rent data for Fayetteville, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Fayetteville, AR?

Median rent in Fayetteville is $1,720 a month. A typical bartender in Arkansas earns about $29,158 a year, which makes that rent 70.8% 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 Fayetteville?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Arkansas (~$29,158/yr) supports up to $729 a month in rent. Fayetteville's current median rent is $1,720/mo, which is $991/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $14 an hour, a bartender in Arkansas works roughly 122.7 hours a month to cover Fayetteville's median rent of $1,720.

Where is rent cheaper than Fayetteville for a bartender?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Gentry ($1,719/mo), Farmington ($1,715/mo), Hot Springs Village ($1,713/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 Fayetteville, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.