Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Cape Elizabeth, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 116.3% of gross income.

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

Cape Elizabeth median rent
$3,166/mo
Bartender salary (Maine)
$32,671/yr
Rent as % of income
116.3%
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 $3,166 exceeds that threshold by $2,349/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 201.6 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:

Falmouth, ME
$3,025/mo (111.1% of income)
Falmouth, ME
$3,000/mo (110.2% of income)
Gorham, ME
$3,000/mo (110.2% 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 $3,166 a month. A typical bartender in Maine earns about $32,671 a year, which makes that rent 116.3% 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 $3,166/mo, which is $2,349/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 201.6 hours a month to cover Cape Elizabeth's median rent of $3,166.

Where is rent cheaper than Cape Elizabeth for a bartender?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Falmouth ($3,025/mo), Falmouth ($3,000/mo), Gorham ($3,000/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.