Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Austin, AR?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.5% of gross income.
Austin rent: August 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).
About rent and a waiter or waitress salary
Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Austin, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Austin
View full rent data for Austin, AR →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Austin, AR?
Median rent in Austin is $1,048 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Arkansas earns about $30,320 a year, which makes that rent 41.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Austin?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Arkansas (~$30,320/yr) supports up to $758 a month in rent. Austin's current median rent is $1,048/mo, which is $290/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Austin?
At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Arkansas works roughly 71.9 hours a month to cover Austin's median rent of $1,048.
Where is rent cheaper than Austin for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Fort Smith ($1,047/mo), Fort Smith ($1,045/mo), Fort Smith ($1,045/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.