Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Smithville, MO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 78.9% of gross income.

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

Smithville median rent
$2,126/mo
Bartender salary (Missouri)
$32,320/yr
Rent as % of income
78.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,693, and the 30% rule supports up to $808/mo in rent. Smithville's median rent of $2,126 exceeds that threshold by $1,318/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 136.8 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 Smithville, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Riverside, MO
$2,051/mo (76.2% of income)
Chesterfield, MO
$2,022/mo (75.1% of income)
Grain Valley, MO
$1,991/mo (73.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Smithville

View full rent data for Smithville, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Smithville, MO?

Median rent in Smithville is $2,126 a month. A typical bartender in Missouri earns about $32,320 a year, which makes that rent 78.9% 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 Smithville?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Missouri (~$32,320/yr) supports up to $808 a month in rent. Smithville's current median rent is $2,126/mo, which is $1,318/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Missouri works roughly 136.8 hours a month to cover Smithville's median rent of $2,126.

Where is rent cheaper than Smithville for a bartender?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Riverside ($2,051/mo), Chesterfield ($2,022/mo), Grain Valley ($1,991/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 Smithville, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.