Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Bemidji, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.6% of gross income.

Bemidji rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Bemidji median rent
$1,023/mo
Bartender salary (Minnesota)
$36,535/yr
Rent as % of income
33.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,045, and the 30% rule supports up to $913/mo in rent. Bemidji's median rent of $1,023 exceeds that threshold by $110/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 58.2 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 Bemidji, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Austin, MN
$1,022/mo (33.6% of income)
Austin, MN
$1,019/mo (33.5% of income)
Albert Lea, MN
$1,014/mo (33.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bemidji

View full rent data for Bemidji, MN →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Bemidji, MN?

Median rent in Bemidji is $1,023 a month. A typical bartender in Minnesota earns about $36,535 a year, which makes that rent 33.6% 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 Bemidji?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Minnesota (~$36,535/yr) supports up to $913 a month in rent. Bemidji's current median rent is $1,023/mo, which is $110/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a bartender in Minnesota works roughly 58.2 hours a month to cover Bemidji's median rent of $1,023.

Where is rent cheaper than Bemidji for a bartender?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($1,022/mo), Austin ($1,019/mo), Albert Lea ($1,014/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 Bemidji, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.