Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Dayton, KY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 72.5% of gross income.

Dayton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky state estimate).

Dayton median rent
$1,869/mo
Bartender salary (Kentucky)
$30,914/yr
Rent as % of income
72.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,576, and the 30% rule supports up to $773/mo in rent. Dayton's median rent of $1,869 exceeds that threshold by $1,096/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 125.8 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 Kentucky cities have lower median rent than Dayton, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Versailles, KY
$1,822/mo (70.7% of income)
Versailles, KY
$1,807/mo (70.1% of income)
La Grange, KY
$1,795/mo (69.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dayton

View full rent data for Dayton, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Dayton, KY?

Median rent in Dayton is $1,869 a month. A typical bartender in Kentucky earns about $30,914 a year, which makes that rent 72.5% 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 Dayton?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Kentucky (~$30,914/yr) supports up to $773 a month in rent. Dayton's current median rent is $1,869/mo, which is $1,096/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a bartender in Kentucky works roughly 125.8 hours a month to cover Dayton's median rent of $1,869.

Where is rent cheaper than Dayton for a bartender?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Versailles ($1,822/mo), Versailles ($1,807/mo), La Grange ($1,795/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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