Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in McDonough, GA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 63.9% of gross income.
McDonough rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Georgia 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 Georgia cities have lower median rent than McDonough, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for McDonough
View full rent data for McDonough, GA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in McDonough, GA?
Median rent in McDonough is $1,847 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Georgia earns about $34,704 a year, which makes that rent 63.9% 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 McDonough?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Georgia (~$34,704/yr) supports up to $868 a month in rent. McDonough's current median rent is $1,847/mo, which is $979/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in McDonough?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Georgia works roughly 110.7 hours a month to cover McDonough's median rent of $1,847.
Where is rent cheaper than McDonough for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Georgia cities with lower median rent include Atlanta ($1,846/mo), Mableton ($1,846/mo), Jefferson ($1,846/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.