Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Darby, PA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55% of gross income.

Darby rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Darby median rent
$1,594/mo
Bartender salary (Pennsylvania)
$34,779/yr
Rent as % of income
55%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,898, and the 30% rule supports up to $869/mo in rent. Darby's median rent of $1,594 exceeds that threshold by $725/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 95.3 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Darby, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Carlisle, PA
$1,593/mo (55% of income)
Mount Joy, PA
$1,593/mo (55% of income)
Mount Joy, PA
$1,593/mo (55% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Darby

View full rent data for Darby, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Darby, PA?

Median rent in Darby is $1,594 a month. A typical bartender in Pennsylvania earns about $34,779 a year, which makes that rent 55% 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 Darby?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Pennsylvania (~$34,779/yr) supports up to $869 a month in rent. Darby's current median rent is $1,594/mo, which is $725/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a bartender in Pennsylvania works roughly 95.3 hours a month to cover Darby's median rent of $1,594.

Where is rent cheaper than Darby for a bartender?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Carlisle ($1,593/mo), Mount Joy ($1,593/mo), Mount Joy ($1,593/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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