Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Westminster, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.6% of gross income.

Westminster rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Westminster median rent
$1,872/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Colorado)
$38,357/yr
Rent as % of income
58.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,196, and the 30% rule supports up to $959/mo in rent. Westminster's median rent of $1,872 exceeds that threshold by $913/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 101.5 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Westminster, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Denver, CO
$1,871/mo (58.5% of income)
Denver, CO
$1,871/mo (58.5% of income)
Longmont, CO
$1,871/mo (58.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Westminster

View full rent data for Westminster, CO →

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Westminster, CO?

Median rent in Westminster is $1,872 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Colorado earns about $38,357 a year, which makes that rent 58.6% 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 Westminster?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Colorado (~$38,357/yr) supports up to $959 a month in rent. Westminster's current median rent is $1,872/mo, which is $913/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Colorado works roughly 101.5 hours a month to cover Westminster's median rent of $1,872.

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

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Denver ($1,871/mo), Denver ($1,871/mo), Longmont ($1,871/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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