Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Sun City Center, FL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 75.7% of gross income.

Sun City Center rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Sun City Center median rent
$2,143/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Florida)
$33,973/yr
Rent as % of income
75.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,831, and the 30% rule supports up to $849/mo in rent. Sun City Center's median rent of $2,143 exceeds that threshold by $1,294/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 131.2 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Sun City Center, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Margate, FL
$2,142/mo (75.7% of income)
Gibsonton, FL
$2,141/mo (75.6% of income)
Mary Esther, FL
$2,141/mo (75.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sun City Center

View full rent data for Sun City Center, FL

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Sun City Center, FL?

Median rent in Sun City Center is $2,143 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Florida earns about $33,973 a year, which makes that rent 75.7% 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 Sun City Center?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Florida (~$33,973/yr) supports up to $849 a month in rent. Sun City Center's current median rent is $2,143/mo, which is $1,294/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Sun City Center?

At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Florida works roughly 131.2 hours a month to cover Sun City Center's median rent of $2,143.

Where is rent cheaper than Sun City Center for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Margate ($2,142/mo), Gibsonton ($2,141/mo), Mary Esther ($2,141/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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