Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Southern Pines, NC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 64.3% of gross income.

Southern Pines rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Southern Pines median rent
$1,770/mo
Bartender salary (North Carolina)
$33,022/yr
Rent as % of income
64.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,752, and the 30% rule supports up to $826/mo in rent. Southern Pines's median rent of $1,770 exceeds that threshold by $944/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 111.5 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Southern Pines, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Garner, NC
$1,769/mo (64.3% of income)
Carthage, NC
$1,768/mo (64.2% of income)
Denver, NC
$1,768/mo (64.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Southern Pines

View full rent data for Southern Pines, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Southern Pines, NC?

Median rent in Southern Pines is $1,770 a month. A typical bartender in North Carolina earns about $33,022 a year, which makes that rent 64.3% 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 Southern Pines?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in North Carolina (~$33,022/yr) supports up to $826 a month in rent. Southern Pines's current median rent is $1,770/mo, which is $944/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in North Carolina works roughly 111.5 hours a month to cover Southern Pines's median rent of $1,770.

Where is rent cheaper than Southern Pines for a bartender?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Garner ($1,769/mo), Carthage ($1,768/mo), Denver ($1,768/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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