Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Highland Beach, FL?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 252.4% of gross income.
Highland Beach rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Highland Beach, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Highland Beach
View full rent data for Highland Beach, FL →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Highland Beach, FL?
Median rent in Highland Beach is $7,146 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Florida earns about $33,973 a year, which makes that rent 252.4% 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 Highland Beach?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Florida (~$33,973/yr) supports up to $849 a month in rent. Highland Beach's current median rent is $7,146/mo, which is $6,297/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Highland Beach?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Florida works roughly 437.5 hours a month to cover Highland Beach's median rent of $7,146.
Where is rent cheaper than Highland Beach for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Palm Beach ($7,133/mo), Key Biscayne ($7,121/mo), Palm Beach ($7,117/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.