Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Albert Lea, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.5% of gross income.

Albert Lea rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Albert Lea median rent
$960/mo
Bartender salary (Minnesota)
$36,535/yr
Rent as % of income
31.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,045, and the 30% rule supports up to $913/mo in rent. Albert Lea's median rent of $960 exceeds that threshold by $47/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 54.7 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Albert Lea, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Austin, MN
$947/mo (31.1% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$905/mo (29.7% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$872/mo (28.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Albert Lea

View full rent data for Albert Lea, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Albert Lea, MN?

Median rent in Albert Lea is $960 a month. A typical bartender in Minnesota earns about $36,535 a year, which makes that rent 31.5% 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 Albert Lea?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Minnesota (~$36,535/yr) supports up to $913 a month in rent. Albert Lea's current median rent is $960/mo, which is $47/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a bartender in Minnesota works roughly 54.7 hours a month to cover Albert Lea's median rent of $960.

Where is rent cheaper than Albert Lea for a bartender?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($947/mo), Saint Cloud ($905/mo), Saint Cloud ($872/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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