Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Saint Louis Park, MN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.5% of gross income.

Saint Louis Park rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Saint Louis Park median rent
$1,851/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Minnesota)
$37,991/yr
Rent as % of income
58.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,166, and the 30% rule supports up to $950/mo in rent. Saint Louis Park's median rent of $1,851 exceeds that threshold by $901/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 101.3 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Saint Louis Park, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Plymouth, MN
$1,847/mo (58.3% of income)
Savage, MN
$1,847/mo (58.3% of income)
Oakdale, MN
$1,845/mo (58.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saint Louis Park

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Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Saint Louis Park, MN?

Median rent in Saint Louis Park is $1,851 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Minnesota earns about $37,991 a year, which makes that rent 58.5% 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 Saint Louis Park?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Minnesota (~$37,991/yr) supports up to $950 a month in rent. Saint Louis Park's current median rent is $1,851/mo, which is $901/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Saint Louis Park?

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Minnesota works roughly 101.3 hours a month to cover Saint Louis Park's median rent of $1,851.

Where is rent cheaper than Saint Louis Park for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Plymouth ($1,847/mo), Savage ($1,847/mo), Oakdale ($1,845/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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