Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Duluth, MN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.9% of gross income.

Duluth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Duluth median rent
$1,458/mo
Bartender salary (Minnesota)
$36,535/yr
Rent as % of income
47.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,045, and the 30% rule supports up to $913/mo in rent. Duluth's median rent of $1,458 exceeds that threshold by $545/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 83 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 Duluth, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Burnsville, MN
$1,457/mo (47.9% of income)
Little Canada, MN
$1,454/mo (47.8% of income)
South Saint Paul, MN
$1,453/mo (47.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Duluth

View full rent data for Duluth, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Duluth, MN?

Median rent in Duluth is $1,458 a month. A typical bartender in Minnesota earns about $36,535 a year, which makes that rent 47.9% 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 Duluth?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Minnesota (~$36,535/yr) supports up to $913 a month in rent. Duluth's current median rent is $1,458/mo, which is $545/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a bartender in Minnesota works roughly 83 hours a month to cover Duluth's median rent of $1,458.

Where is rent cheaper than Duluth for a bartender?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Burnsville ($1,457/mo), Little Canada ($1,454/mo), South Saint Paul ($1,453/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 Duluth, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.