Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Mountlake Terrace, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 64.3% of gross income.

Mountlake Terrace rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Mountlake Terrace median rent
$2,109/mo
Bartender salary (Washington)
$39,346/yr
Rent as % of income
64.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,279, and the 30% rule supports up to $984/mo in rent. Mountlake Terrace's median rent of $2,109 exceeds that threshold by $1,125/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 111.5 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 Mountlake Terrace, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Camas, WA
$2,108/mo (64.3% of income)
Puyallup, WA
$2,108/mo (64.3% of income)
Camas, WA
$2,107/mo (64.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Mountlake Terrace

View full rent data for Mountlake Terrace, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Mountlake Terrace, WA?

Median rent in Mountlake Terrace is $2,109 a month. A typical bartender in Washington earns about $39,346 a year, which makes that rent 64.3% 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 Mountlake Terrace?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Washington (~$39,346/yr) supports up to $984 a month in rent. Mountlake Terrace's current median rent is $2,109/mo, which is $1,125/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a bartender in Washington works roughly 111.5 hours a month to cover Mountlake Terrace's median rent of $2,109.

Where is rent cheaper than Mountlake Terrace for a bartender?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Camas ($2,108/mo), Puyallup ($2,108/mo), Camas ($2,107/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 Mountlake Terrace, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.