Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Moorhead, MN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.3% of gross income.

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

Moorhead median rent
$1,258/mo
Bartender salary (Minnesota)
$36,535/yr
Rent as % of income
41.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,045, and the 30% rule supports up to $913/mo in rent. Moorhead's median rent of $1,258 exceeds that threshold by $345/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 71.6 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Moorhead, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Winona, MN
$1,255/mo (41.2% of income)
Richfield, MN
$1,254/mo (41.2% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$1,252/mo (41.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Moorhead

View full rent data for Moorhead, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Moorhead, MN?

Median rent in Moorhead is $1,258 a month. A typical bartender in Minnesota earns about $36,535 a year, which makes that rent 41.3% 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 Moorhead?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Minnesota (~$36,535/yr) supports up to $913 a month in rent. Moorhead's current median rent is $1,258/mo, which is $345/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a bartender in Minnesota works roughly 71.6 hours a month to cover Moorhead's median rent of $1,258.

Where is rent cheaper than Moorhead for a bartender?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Winona ($1,255/mo), Richfield ($1,254/mo), Saint Cloud ($1,252/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 Moorhead, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.