Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Rio Rico, AZ?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.9% of gross income.
Rio Rico rent: August 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arizona 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 Arizona cities have lower median rent than Rio Rico, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Rio Rico
View full rent data for Rio Rico, AZ →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Rio Rico, AZ?
Median rent in Rio Rico is $1,650 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Arizona earns about $35,434 a year, which makes that rent 55.9% 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 Rio Rico?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Arizona (~$35,434/yr) supports up to $886 a month in rent. Rio Rico's current median rent is $1,650/mo, which is $764/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Rio Rico?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Arizona works roughly 96.9 hours a month to cover Rio Rico's median rent of $1,650.
Where is rent cheaper than Rio Rico for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include Casa Grande ($1,649/mo), Casa Grande ($1,649/mo), Lake Havasu City ($1,647/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.