Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Hot Springs, AR?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.3% of gross income.
Hot Springs rent: June 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 Hot Springs, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Hot Springs
View full rent data for Hot Springs, AR →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Hot Springs, AR?
Median rent in Hot Springs is $1,297 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Arkansas earns about $30,320 a year, which makes that rent 51.3% 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 Hot Springs?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Arkansas (~$30,320/yr) supports up to $758 a month in rent. Hot Springs's current median rent is $1,297/mo, which is $539/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Hot Springs?
At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Arkansas works roughly 89 hours a month to cover Hot Springs's median rent of $1,297.
Where is rent cheaper than Hot Springs for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Conway ($1,295/mo), Conway ($1,295/mo), Conway ($1,293/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.