Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Port Richey, FL?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 59.3% of gross income.
Port Richey rent: June 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 Port Richey, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Port Richey
View full rent data for Port Richey, FL →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Port Richey, FL?
Median rent in Port Richey is $1,678 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Florida earns about $33,973 a year, which makes that rent 59.3% 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 Port Richey?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Florida (~$33,973/yr) supports up to $849 a month in rent. Port Richey's current median rent is $1,678/mo, which is $829/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Port Richey?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Florida works roughly 102.7 hours a month to cover Port Richey's median rent of $1,678.
Where is rent cheaper than Port Richey for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Lakeland ($1,677/mo), Bunnell ($1,677/mo), Parker ($1,676/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.