Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Prairie Grove, AR?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 67.6% of gross income.

Prairie Grove rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Prairie Grove median rent
$1,707/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Arkansas)
$30,320/yr
Rent as % of income
67.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,527, and the 30% rule supports up to $758/mo in rent. Prairie Grove's median rent of $1,707 exceeds that threshold by $949/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 117.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Prairie Grove, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Fayetteville, AR
$1,698/mo (67.2% of income)
Fayetteville, AR
$1,695/mo (67.1% of income)
Pea Ridge, AR
$1,686/mo (66.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Prairie Grove

View full rent data for Prairie Grove, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Prairie Grove, AR?

Median rent in Prairie Grove is $1,707 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Arkansas earns about $30,320 a year, which makes that rent 67.6% 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 Prairie Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Arkansas (~$30,320/yr) supports up to $758 a month in rent. Prairie Grove's current median rent is $1,707/mo, which is $949/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Prairie Grove?

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Arkansas works roughly 117.1 hours a month to cover Prairie Grove's median rent of $1,707.

Where is rent cheaper than Prairie Grove for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Fayetteville ($1,698/mo), Fayetteville ($1,695/mo), Pea Ridge ($1,686/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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