Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Glasgow, KY?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.6% of gross income.

Glasgow rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky state estimate).

Glasgow median rent
$981/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Kentucky)
$32,146/yr
Rent as % of income
36.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,679, and the 30% rule supports up to $804/mo in rent. Glasgow's median rent of $981 exceeds that threshold by $177/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 63.5 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 Kentucky cities have lower median rent than Glasgow, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Richmond, KY
$977/mo (36.5% of income)
Richmond, KY
$977/mo (36.5% of income)
Richmond, KY
$976/mo (36.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Glasgow

View full rent data for Glasgow, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Glasgow, KY?

Median rent in Glasgow is $981 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Kentucky earns about $32,146 a year, which makes that rent 36.6% 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 Glasgow?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Kentucky (~$32,146/yr) supports up to $804 a month in rent. Glasgow's current median rent is $981/mo, which is $177/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Kentucky works roughly 63.5 hours a month to cover Glasgow's median rent of $981.

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

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Richmond ($977/mo), Richmond ($977/mo), Richmond ($976/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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