Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Tea, SD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.8% of gross income.

Tea rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Tea median rent
$1,257/mo
Bartender salary (South Dakota)
$30,914/yr
Rent as % of income
48.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,576, and the 30% rule supports up to $773/mo in rent. Tea's median rent of $1,257 exceeds that threshold by $484/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 84.6 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 South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Tea, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Rapid City, SD
$1,256/mo (48.8% of income)
Vermillion, SD
$1,250/mo (48.5% of income)
Sioux Falls, SD
$1,247/mo (48.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tea

View full rent data for Tea, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Tea, SD?

Median rent in Tea is $1,257 a month. A typical bartender in South Dakota earns about $30,914 a year, which makes that rent 48.8% 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 Tea?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in South Dakota (~$30,914/yr) supports up to $773 a month in rent. Tea's current median rent is $1,257/mo, which is $484/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a bartender in South Dakota works roughly 84.6 hours a month to cover Tea's median rent of $1,257.

Where is rent cheaper than Tea for a bartender?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Rapid City ($1,256/mo), Vermillion ($1,250/mo), Sioux Falls ($1,247/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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