Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Woodbury, MN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 71.3% of gross income.

Woodbury rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Woodbury median rent
$2,257/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Minnesota)
$37,991/yr
Rent as % of income
71.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,166, and the 30% rule supports up to $950/mo in rent. Woodbury's median rent of $2,257 exceeds that threshold by $1,307/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 123.6 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 Woodbury, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Champlin, MN
$2,213/mo (69.9% of income)
Champlin, MN
$2,201/mo (69.5% of income)
Champlin, MN
$2,200/mo (69.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Woodbury

View full rent data for Woodbury, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Woodbury, MN?

Median rent in Woodbury is $2,257 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Minnesota earns about $37,991 a year, which makes that rent 71.3% 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 Woodbury?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Minnesota (~$37,991/yr) supports up to $950 a month in rent. Woodbury's current median rent is $2,257/mo, which is $1,307/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Woodbury?

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Minnesota works roughly 123.6 hours a month to cover Woodbury's median rent of $2,257.

Where is rent cheaper than Woodbury for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Champlin ($2,213/mo), Champlin ($2,201/mo), Champlin ($2,200/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 Woodbury, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.