Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Minot, ND?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.7% of gross income.
Minot rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota 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 Dakota cities have lower median rent than Minot, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Minot
View full rent data for Minot, ND →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Minot, ND?
Median rent in Minot is $1,143 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in North Dakota earns about $35,434 a year, which makes that rent 38.7% 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 Minot?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in North Dakota (~$35,434/yr) supports up to $886 a month in rent. Minot's current median rent is $1,143/mo, which is $257/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Minot?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in North Dakota works roughly 67.1 hours a month to cover Minot's median rent of $1,143.
Where is rent cheaper than Minot for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Mandan ($1,141/mo), Grand Forks ($1,138/mo), Mandan ($1,132/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.