Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Van Buren, AR?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.9% of gross income.

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

Van Buren median rent
$1,019/mo
Bartender salary (Arkansas)
$29,158/yr
Rent as % of income
41.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,430, and the 30% rule supports up to $729/mo in rent. Van Buren's median rent of $1,019 exceeds that threshold by $290/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 72.7 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 Van Buren, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Fort Smith, AR
$1,017/mo (41.9% of income)
Fort Smith, AR
$1,017/mo (41.9% of income)
Fort Smith, AR
$1,017/mo (41.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Van Buren

View full rent data for Van Buren, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Van Buren, AR?

Median rent in Van Buren is $1,019 a month. A typical bartender in Arkansas earns about $29,158 a year, which makes that rent 41.9% 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 Van Buren?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Arkansas (~$29,158/yr) supports up to $729 a month in rent. Van Buren's current median rent is $1,019/mo, which is $290/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $14 an hour, a bartender in Arkansas works roughly 72.7 hours a month to cover Van Buren's median rent of $1,019.

Where is rent cheaper than Van Buren for a bartender?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Fort Smith ($1,017/mo), Fort Smith ($1,017/mo), Fort Smith ($1,017/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 Van Buren, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.