Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Walla Walla, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.9% of gross income.

Walla Walla rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Walla Walla median rent
$1,506/mo
Bartender salary (Washington)
$39,346/yr
Rent as % of income
45.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,279, and the 30% rule supports up to $984/mo in rent. Walla Walla's median rent of $1,506 exceeds that threshold by $522/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 79.6 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Walla Walla, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Moses Lake, WA
$1,504/mo (45.9% of income)
Kent, WA
$1,504/mo (45.9% of income)
Auburn, WA
$1,503/mo (45.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Walla Walla

View full rent data for Walla Walla, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Walla Walla, WA?

Median rent in Walla Walla is $1,506 a month. A typical bartender in Washington earns about $39,346 a year, which makes that rent 45.9% 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 Walla Walla?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Washington (~$39,346/yr) supports up to $984 a month in rent. Walla Walla's current median rent is $1,506/mo, which is $522/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a bartender in Washington works roughly 79.6 hours a month to cover Walla Walla's median rent of $1,506.

Where is rent cheaper than Walla Walla for a bartender?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Moses Lake ($1,504/mo), Kent ($1,504/mo), Auburn ($1,503/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 Walla Walla, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.