Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Grand Island, NE?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.1% of gross income.

Grand Island rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).

Grand Island median rent
$1,337/mo
Bartender salary (Nebraska)
$32,671/yr
Rent as % of income
49.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,723, and the 30% rule supports up to $817/mo in rent. Grand Island's median rent of $1,337 exceeds that threshold by $520/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 85.1 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 Nebraska cities have lower median rent than Grand Island, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Bennington, NE
$1,333/mo (49% of income)
Bennington, NE
$1,333/mo (49% of income)
Lexington, NE
$1,332/mo (48.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grand Island

View full rent data for Grand Island, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Grand Island, NE?

Median rent in Grand Island is $1,337 a month. A typical bartender in Nebraska earns about $32,671 a year, which makes that rent 49.1% 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 Grand Island?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Nebraska (~$32,671/yr) supports up to $817 a month in rent. Grand Island's current median rent is $1,337/mo, which is $520/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Nebraska works roughly 85.1 hours a month to cover Grand Island's median rent of $1,337.

Where is rent cheaper than Grand Island for a bartender?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include Bennington ($1,333/mo), Bennington ($1,333/mo), Lexington ($1,332/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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