Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Brunswick, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 79.2% of gross income.

Brunswick rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Brunswick median rent
$2,156/mo
Bartender salary (Maine)
$32,671/yr
Rent as % of income
79.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,723, and the 30% rule supports up to $817/mo in rent. Brunswick's median rent of $2,156 exceeds that threshold by $1,339/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 137.3 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Brunswick, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Gorham, ME
$2,150/mo (79% of income)
Saco, ME
$2,133/mo (78.3% of income)
Old Orchard Beach, ME
$2,106/mo (77.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brunswick

View full rent data for Brunswick, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Brunswick, ME?

Median rent in Brunswick is $2,156 a month. A typical bartender in Maine earns about $32,671 a year, which makes that rent 79.2% 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 Brunswick?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Maine (~$32,671/yr) supports up to $817 a month in rent. Brunswick's current median rent is $2,156/mo, which is $1,339/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Maine works roughly 137.3 hours a month to cover Brunswick's median rent of $2,156.

Where is rent cheaper than Brunswick for a bartender?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Gorham ($2,150/mo), Saco ($2,133/mo), Old Orchard Beach ($2,106/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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