Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Killeen, TX?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.3% of gross income.

Killeen rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Killeen median rent
$1,254/mo
Bartender salary (Texas)
$34,779/yr
Rent as % of income
43.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,898, and the 30% rule supports up to $869/mo in rent. Killeen's median rent of $1,254 exceeds that threshold by $385/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 75 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Killeen, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Huntsville, TX
$1,253/mo (43.2% of income)
San Angelo, TX
$1,253/mo (43.2% of income)
Freeport, TX
$1,253/mo (43.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Killeen

View full rent data for Killeen, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Killeen, TX?

Median rent in Killeen is $1,254 a month. A typical bartender in Texas earns about $34,779 a year, which makes that rent 43.3% 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 Killeen?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Texas (~$34,779/yr) supports up to $869 a month in rent. Killeen's current median rent is $1,254/mo, which is $385/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a bartender in Texas works roughly 75 hours a month to cover Killeen's median rent of $1,254.

Where is rent cheaper than Killeen for a bartender?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Huntsville ($1,253/mo), San Angelo ($1,253/mo), Freeport ($1,253/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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