Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Bloomington, IL?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.5% of gross income.
Bloomington rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).
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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Bloomington, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:
Compare with full rent data for Bloomington
View full rent data for Bloomington, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a bartender afford rent in Bloomington, IL?
Median rent in Bloomington is $1,270 a month. A typical bartender in Illinois earns about $35,833 a year, which makes that rent 42.5% 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 Bloomington?
Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Illinois (~$35,833/yr) supports up to $896 a month in rent. Bloomington's current median rent is $1,270/mo, which is $374/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Bloomington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a bartender in Illinois works roughly 73.7 hours a month to cover Bloomington's median rent of $1,270.
Where is rent cheaper than Bloomington for a bartender?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Cicero ($1,269/mo), Urbana ($1,268/mo), Dekalb ($1,267/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.