Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Commerce Township, MI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 75.5% of gross income.
Commerce Township rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Michigan 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 Michigan cities have lower median rent than Commerce Township, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Commerce Township
View full rent data for Commerce Township, MI →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Commerce Township, MI?
Median rent in Commerce Township is $2,206 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Michigan earns about $35,069 a year, which makes that rent 75.5% 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 Commerce Township?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Michigan (~$35,069/yr) supports up to $877 a month in rent. Commerce Township's current median rent is $2,206/mo, which is $1,329/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Commerce Township?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Michigan works roughly 130.8 hours a month to cover Commerce Township's median rent of $2,206.
Where is rent cheaper than Commerce Township for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Michigan cities with lower median rent include Ann Arbor ($2,204/mo), Macomb ($2,202/mo), Macomb ($2,197/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.