Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Cape Elizabeth, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 106.8% of gross income.

Cape Elizabeth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Cape Elizabeth median rent
$2,908/mo
Bartender salary (Maine)
$32,671/yr
Rent as % of income
106.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,723, and the 30% rule supports up to $817/mo in rent. Cape Elizabeth's median rent of $2,908 exceeds that threshold by $2,091/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 185.1 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Cape Elizabeth, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Scarborough, ME
$2,870/mo (105.4% of income)
Scarborough, ME
$2,844/mo (104.5% of income)
Scarborough, ME
$2,843/mo (104.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cape Elizabeth

View full rent data for Cape Elizabeth, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Cape Elizabeth, ME?

Median rent in Cape Elizabeth is $2,908 a month. A typical bartender in Maine earns about $32,671 a year, which makes that rent 106.8% 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 Cape Elizabeth?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Maine (~$32,671/yr) supports up to $817 a month in rent. Cape Elizabeth's current median rent is $2,908/mo, which is $2,091/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Maine works roughly 185.1 hours a month to cover Cape Elizabeth's median rent of $2,908.

Where is rent cheaper than Cape Elizabeth for a bartender?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Scarborough ($2,870/mo), Scarborough ($2,844/mo), Scarborough ($2,843/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 Cape Elizabeth, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.