Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Great Falls, MT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.6% of gross income.

Great Falls rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Great Falls median rent
$1,433/mo
Bartender salary (Montana)
$30,914/yr
Rent as % of income
55.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,576, and the 30% rule supports up to $773/mo in rent. Great Falls's median rent of $1,433 exceeds that threshold by $660/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 96.4 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Great Falls, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Butte, MT
$1,432/mo (55.6% of income)
Butte, MT
$1,432/mo (55.6% of income)
Livingston, MT
$1,426/mo (55.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Great Falls

View full rent data for Great Falls, MT →

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Great Falls, MT?

Median rent in Great Falls is $1,433 a month. A typical bartender in Montana earns about $30,914 a year, which makes that rent 55.6% 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 Great Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Montana (~$30,914/yr) supports up to $773 a month in rent. Great Falls's current median rent is $1,433/mo, which is $660/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a bartender in Montana works roughly 96.4 hours a month to cover Great Falls's median rent of $1,433.

Where is rent cheaper than Great Falls for a bartender?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Butte ($1,432/mo), Butte ($1,432/mo), Livingston ($1,426/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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