Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Hattiesburg, MS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.5% of gross income.

Hattiesburg rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Hattiesburg median rent
$1,315/mo
Bartender salary (Mississippi)
$28,455/yr
Rent as % of income
55.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,371, and the 30% rule supports up to $711/mo in rent. Hattiesburg's median rent of $1,315 exceeds that threshold by $604/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 96.1 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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Hattiesburg, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Columbus, MS
$1,314/mo (55.4% of income)
Bay Saint Louis, MS
$1,314/mo (55.4% of income)
Columbus, MS
$1,313/mo (55.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hattiesburg

View full rent data for Hattiesburg, MS →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Hattiesburg, MS?

Median rent in Hattiesburg is $1,315 a month. A typical bartender in Mississippi earns about $28,455 a year, which makes that rent 55.5% 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 Hattiesburg?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Mississippi (~$28,455/yr) supports up to $711 a month in rent. Hattiesburg's current median rent is $1,315/mo, which is $604/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $14 an hour, a bartender in Mississippi works roughly 96.1 hours a month to cover Hattiesburg's median rent of $1,315.

Where is rent cheaper than Hattiesburg for a bartender?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Columbus ($1,314/mo), Bay Saint Louis ($1,314/mo), Columbus ($1,313/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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