Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Duluth, GA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.4% of gross income.

Duluth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Georgia state estimate).

Duluth median rent
$1,689/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Georgia)
$34,704/yr
Rent as % of income
58.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,892, and the 30% rule supports up to $868/mo in rent. Duluth's median rent of $1,689 exceeds that threshold by $821/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 101.2 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 Georgia cities have lower median rent than Duluth, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Lithonia, GA
$1,688/mo (58.4% of income)
Hinesville, GA
$1,688/mo (58.4% of income)
Marietta, GA
$1,687/mo (58.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Duluth

View full rent data for Duluth, GA

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Duluth, GA?

Median rent in Duluth is $1,689 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Georgia earns about $34,704 a year, which makes that rent 58.4% 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 Duluth?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Georgia (~$34,704/yr) supports up to $868 a month in rent. Duluth's current median rent is $1,689/mo, which is $821/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Georgia works roughly 101.2 hours a month to cover Duluth's median rent of $1,689.

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

Nearby Georgia cities with lower median rent include Lithonia ($1,688/mo), Hinesville ($1,688/mo), Marietta ($1,687/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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