Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Pascagoula, MS?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.3% of gross income.
Pascagoula rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi 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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Pascagoula, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Pascagoula
View full rent data for Pascagoula, MS →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Pascagoula, MS?
Median rent in Pascagoula is $1,166 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Mississippi earns about $29,589 a year, which makes that rent 47.3% 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 Pascagoula?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Mississippi (~$29,589/yr) supports up to $740 a month in rent. Pascagoula's current median rent is $1,166/mo, which is $426/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Pascagoula?
At an hourly equivalent of about $14 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Mississippi works roughly 82 hours a month to cover Pascagoula's median rent of $1,166.
Where is rent cheaper than Pascagoula for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Tupelo ($1,164/mo), Tupelo ($1,157/mo), Southaven ($1,155/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.