Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Commerce City, CO?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 77.7% of gross income.
Commerce City rent: June 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 Commerce City, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Commerce City
View full rent data for Commerce City, CO →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Commerce City, CO?
Median rent in Commerce City is $2,484 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Colorado earns about $38,357 a year, which makes that rent 77.7% 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 Commerce City?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Colorado (~$38,357/yr) supports up to $959 a month in rent. Commerce City's current median rent is $2,484/mo, which is $1,525/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Commerce City?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Colorado works roughly 134.7 hours a month to cover Commerce City's median rent of $2,484.
Where is rent cheaper than Commerce City for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Boulder ($2,483/mo), Glenwood Springs ($2,482/mo), Boulder ($2,475/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.