Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Moses Lake, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.8% of gross income.

Moses Lake rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Moses Lake median rent
$1,501/mo
Bartender salary (Washington)
$39,346/yr
Rent as % of income
45.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,279, and the 30% rule supports up to $984/mo in rent. Moses Lake's median rent of $1,501 exceeds that threshold by $517/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 79.3 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Moses Lake, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Ocean Shores, WA
$1,500/mo (45.7% of income)
Walla Walla, WA
$1,500/mo (45.7% of income)
Spokane Valley, WA
$1,500/mo (45.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Moses Lake

View full rent data for Moses Lake, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Moses Lake, WA?

Median rent in Moses Lake is $1,501 a month. A typical bartender in Washington earns about $39,346 a year, which makes that rent 45.8% 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 Moses Lake?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Washington (~$39,346/yr) supports up to $984 a month in rent. Moses Lake's current median rent is $1,501/mo, which is $517/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a bartender in Washington works roughly 79.3 hours a month to cover Moses Lake's median rent of $1,501.

Where is rent cheaper than Moses Lake for a bartender?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Ocean Shores ($1,500/mo), Walla Walla ($1,500/mo), Spokane Valley ($1,500/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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