Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Ferguson, MO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.4% of gross income.

Ferguson rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Ferguson median rent
$1,385/mo
Bartender salary (Missouri)
$32,320/yr
Rent as % of income
51.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,693, and the 30% rule supports up to $808/mo in rent. Ferguson's median rent of $1,385 exceeds that threshold by $577/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 89.1 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Ferguson, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Ozark, MO
$1,384/mo (51.4% of income)
Kansas City, MO
$1,384/mo (51.4% of income)
Ozark, MO
$1,383/mo (51.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ferguson

View full rent data for Ferguson, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Ferguson, MO?

Median rent in Ferguson is $1,385 a month. A typical bartender in Missouri earns about $32,320 a year, which makes that rent 51.4% 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 Ferguson?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Missouri (~$32,320/yr) supports up to $808 a month in rent. Ferguson's current median rent is $1,385/mo, which is $577/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Missouri works roughly 89.1 hours a month to cover Ferguson's median rent of $1,385.

Where is rent cheaper than Ferguson for a bartender?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Ozark ($1,384/mo), Kansas City ($1,384/mo), Ozark ($1,383/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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