Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Albert Lea, MN?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.3% of gross income.
Albert Lea rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Albert Lea, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Albert Lea
View full rent data for Albert Lea, MN →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Albert Lea, MN?
Median rent in Albert Lea is $960 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Minnesota earns about $37,991 a year, which makes that rent 30.3% 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 Albert Lea?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Minnesota (~$37,991/yr) supports up to $950 a month in rent. Albert Lea's current median rent is $960/mo, which is $10/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Albert Lea?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Minnesota works roughly 52.6 hours a month to cover Albert Lea's median rent of $960.
Where is rent cheaper than Albert Lea for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($947/mo), Saint Cloud ($905/mo), Saint Cloud ($872/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.