Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Lewiston, ID?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.8% of gross income.
Lewiston rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho 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 Idaho cities have lower median rent than Lewiston, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Lewiston
View full rent data for Lewiston, ID →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Lewiston, ID?
Median rent in Lewiston is $1,321 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Idaho earns about $32,512 a year, which makes that rent 48.8% 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 Lewiston?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Idaho (~$32,512/yr) supports up to $813 a month in rent. Lewiston's current median rent is $1,321/mo, which is $508/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Lewiston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Idaho works roughly 84.5 hours a month to cover Lewiston's median rent of $1,321.
Where is rent cheaper than Lewiston for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Idaho Falls ($1,320/mo), Idaho Falls ($1,319/mo), Idaho Falls ($1,318/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.