Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Akron, OH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.3% of gross income.

Akron rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Akron median rent
$1,137/mo
Bartender salary (Ohio)
$33,022/yr
Rent as % of income
41.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,752, and the 30% rule supports up to $826/mo in rent. Akron's median rent of $1,137 exceeds that threshold by $311/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 71.6 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Akron, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Bedford, OH
$1,136/mo (41.3% of income)
Columbus, OH
$1,135/mo (41.2% of income)
Lima, OH
$1,135/mo (41.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Akron

View full rent data for Akron, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Akron, OH?

Median rent in Akron is $1,137 a month. A typical bartender in Ohio earns about $33,022 a year, which makes that rent 41.3% 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 Akron?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Ohio (~$33,022/yr) supports up to $826 a month in rent. Akron's current median rent is $1,137/mo, which is $311/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Ohio works roughly 71.6 hours a month to cover Akron's median rent of $1,137.

Where is rent cheaper than Akron for a bartender?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Bedford ($1,136/mo), Columbus ($1,135/mo), Lima ($1,135/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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