Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Montgomery, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 76.2% of gross income.

Montgomery rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Montgomery median rent
$2,276/mo
Bartender salary (Illinois)
$35,833/yr
Rent as % of income
76.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,986, and the 30% rule supports up to $896/mo in rent. Montgomery's median rent of $2,276 exceeds that threshold by $1,380/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 132.1 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Montgomery, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Evergreen Park, IL
$2,275/mo (76.2% of income)
Wheaton, IL
$2,275/mo (76.2% of income)
Roselle, IL
$2,274/mo (76.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Montgomery

View full rent data for Montgomery, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Montgomery, IL?

Median rent in Montgomery is $2,276 a month. A typical bartender in Illinois earns about $35,833 a year, which makes that rent 76.2% 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 Montgomery?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Illinois (~$35,833/yr) supports up to $896 a month in rent. Montgomery's current median rent is $2,276/mo, which is $1,380/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a bartender in Illinois works roughly 132.1 hours a month to cover Montgomery's median rent of $2,276.

Where is rent cheaper than Montgomery for a bartender?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Evergreen Park ($2,275/mo), Wheaton ($2,275/mo), Roselle ($2,274/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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