Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Lillington, NC?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 58.1% of gross income.
Lillington rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Lillington, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Lillington
View full rent data for Lillington, NC →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Lillington, NC?
Median rent in Lillington is $1,663 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in North Carolina earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 58.1% 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 Lillington?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in North Carolina (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Lillington's current median rent is $1,663/mo, which is $805/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Lillington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in North Carolina works roughly 100.7 hours a month to cover Lillington's median rent of $1,663.
Where is rent cheaper than Lillington for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Clemmons ($1,662/mo), Leland ($1,662/mo), Raeford ($1,662/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.