Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Centennial, CO?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 70.7% of gross income.
Centennial rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Centennial, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Centennial
View full rent data for Centennial, CO →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Centennial, CO?
Median rent in Centennial is $2,259 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Colorado earns about $38,357 a year, which makes that rent 70.7% 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 Centennial?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Colorado (~$38,357/yr) supports up to $959 a month in rent. Centennial's current median rent is $2,259/mo, which is $1,300/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Centennial?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Colorado works roughly 122.5 hours a month to cover Centennial's median rent of $2,259.
Where is rent cheaper than Centennial for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Castle Rock ($2,258/mo), Milliken ($2,258/mo), Rifle ($2,250/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.