Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Kettering, OH?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.6% of gross income.

Kettering rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Kettering median rent
$1,366/mo
Bartender salary (Ohio)
$33,022/yr
Rent as % of income
49.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,752, and the 30% rule supports up to $826/mo in rent. Kettering's median rent of $1,366 exceeds that threshold by $540/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 86 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 Kettering, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Fairborn, OH
$1,365/mo (49.6% of income)
Garfield Heights, OH
$1,365/mo (49.6% of income)
Mason, OH
$1,364/mo (49.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kettering

View full rent data for Kettering, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Kettering, OH?

Median rent in Kettering is $1,366 a month. A typical bartender in Ohio earns about $33,022 a year, which makes that rent 49.6% 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 Kettering?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Ohio (~$33,022/yr) supports up to $826 a month in rent. Kettering's current median rent is $1,366/mo, which is $540/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Ohio works roughly 86 hours a month to cover Kettering's median rent of $1,366.

Where is rent cheaper than Kettering for a bartender?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Fairborn ($1,365/mo), Garfield Heights ($1,365/mo), Mason ($1,364/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 Kettering, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.