Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Meridian, ID?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 76.2% of gross income.
Meridian rent: June 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 Meridian, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Meridian
View full rent data for Meridian, ID →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Meridian, ID?
Median rent in Meridian is $2,065 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Idaho earns about $32,512 a year, which makes that rent 76.2% 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 Meridian?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Idaho (~$32,512/yr) supports up to $813 a month in rent. Meridian's current median rent is $2,065/mo, which is $1,252/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Meridian?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Idaho works roughly 132.1 hours a month to cover Meridian's median rent of $2,065.
Where is rent cheaper than Meridian for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Eagle ($2,052/mo), Kimberly ($2,050/mo), Eagle ($2,045/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.