Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Anthem, AZ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 75.5% of gross income.

Anthem rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arizona state estimate).

Anthem median rent
$2,229/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Arizona)
$35,434/yr
Rent as % of income
75.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,953, and the 30% rule supports up to $886/mo in rent. Anthem's median rent of $2,229 exceeds that threshold by $1,343/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 130.8 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 Arizona cities have lower median rent than Anthem, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Queen Creek, AZ
$2,227/mo (75.4% of income)
Marana, AZ
$2,226/mo (75.4% of income)
Flagstaff, AZ
$2,224/mo (75.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Anthem

View full rent data for Anthem, AZ

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Anthem, AZ?

Median rent in Anthem is $2,229 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Arizona earns about $35,434 a year, which makes that rent 75.5% 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 Anthem?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Arizona (~$35,434/yr) supports up to $886 a month in rent. Anthem's current median rent is $2,229/mo, which is $1,343/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Arizona works roughly 130.8 hours a month to cover Anthem's median rent of $2,229.

Where is rent cheaper than Anthem for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include Queen Creek ($2,227/mo), Marana ($2,226/mo), Flagstaff ($2,224/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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