Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Leesville, LA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 44% of gross income.
Leesville rent: August 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Leesville, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Leesville
View full rent data for Leesville, LA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Leesville, LA?
Median rent in Leesville is $1,166 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Louisiana earns about $31,781 a year, which makes that rent 44% 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 Leesville?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Louisiana (~$31,781/yr) supports up to $795 a month in rent. Leesville's current median rent is $1,166/mo, which is $371/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Leesville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Louisiana works roughly 76.3 hours a month to cover Leesville's median rent of $1,166.
Where is rent cheaper than Leesville for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Thibodaux ($1,165/mo), Lake Charles ($1,165/mo), New Iberia ($1,164/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.