Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in La Place, LA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 64.9% of gross income.

La Place rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

La Place median rent
$1,720/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Louisiana)
$31,781/yr
Rent as % of income
64.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,648, and the 30% rule supports up to $795/mo in rent. La Place's median rent of $1,720 exceeds that threshold by $925/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 112.6 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than La Place, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Metairie, LA
$1,715/mo (64.8% of income)
Ponchatoula, LA
$1,714/mo (64.7% of income)
Belle Chasse, LA
$1,713/mo (64.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for La Place

View full rent data for La Place, LA

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in La Place, LA?

Median rent in La Place is $1,720 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Louisiana earns about $31,781 a year, which makes that rent 64.9% 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 La Place?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Louisiana (~$31,781/yr) supports up to $795 a month in rent. La Place's current median rent is $1,720/mo, which is $925/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Louisiana works roughly 112.6 hours a month to cover La Place's median rent of $1,720.

Where is rent cheaper than La Place for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Metairie ($1,715/mo), Ponchatoula ($1,714/mo), Belle Chasse ($1,713/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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