Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Livingston, MT?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 50% of gross income.
Livingston 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 Livingston, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Livingston
View full rent data for Livingston, MT →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Livingston, MT?
Median rent in Livingston is $1,339 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Montana earns about $32,146 a year, which makes that rent 50% 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 Livingston?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Montana (~$32,146/yr) supports up to $804 a month in rent. Livingston's current median rent is $1,339/mo, which is $535/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Livingston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Montana works roughly 86.6 hours a month to cover Livingston's median rent of $1,339.
Where is rent cheaper than Livingston for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Billings ($1,334/mo), Great Falls ($1,333/mo), Great Falls ($1,332/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.