Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Los Banos, CA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 65.8% of gross income.
Los Banos rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California 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 California cities have lower median rent than Los Banos, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Los Banos
View full rent data for Los Banos, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Los Banos, CA?
Median rent in Los Banos is $2,362 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in California earns about $43,105 a year, which makes that rent 65.8% 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 Los Banos?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in California (~$43,105/yr) supports up to $1,078 a month in rent. Los Banos's current median rent is $2,362/mo, which is $1,284/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Los Banos?
At an hourly equivalent of about $21 an hour, a waiter or waitress in California works roughly 114 hours a month to cover Los Banos's median rent of $2,362.
Where is rent cheaper than Los Banos for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Oakdale ($2,361/mo), Moreno Valley ($2,361/mo), Westmont ($2,360/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.