Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Billings, MT?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.4% of gross income.
Billings rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Billings, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Billings
View full rent data for Billings, MT →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Billings, MT?
Median rent in Billings is $1,458 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Montana earns about $32,146 a year, which makes that rent 54.4% 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 Billings?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Montana (~$32,146/yr) supports up to $804 a month in rent. Billings's current median rent is $1,458/mo, which is $654/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Billings?
At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Montana works roughly 94.3 hours a month to cover Billings's median rent of $1,458.
Where is rent cheaper than Billings for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Helena ($1,457/mo), Missoula ($1,456/mo), Missoula ($1,452/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.