Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Scarborough, ME?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 96.9% of gross income.
Scarborough rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Scarborough, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Scarborough
View full rent data for Scarborough, ME →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Scarborough, ME?
Median rent in Scarborough is $2,742 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Maine earns about $33,973 a year, which makes that rent 96.9% 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 Scarborough?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Maine (~$33,973/yr) supports up to $849 a month in rent. Scarborough's current median rent is $2,742/mo, which is $1,893/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Scarborough?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Maine works roughly 167.9 hours a month to cover Scarborough's median rent of $2,742.
Where is rent cheaper than Scarborough for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Cape Elizabeth ($2,721/mo), Kittery ($2,716/mo), Kittery ($2,709/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.