Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Grand Island, NY?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.2% of gross income.
Grand Island rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New York 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 New York cities have lower median rent than Grand Island, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Grand Island
View full rent data for Grand Island, NY →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Grand Island, NY?
Median rent in Grand Island is $2,089 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in New York earns about $41,644 a year, which makes that rent 60.2% 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 Grand Island?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in New York (~$41,644/yr) supports up to $1,041 a month in rent. Grand Island's current median rent is $2,089/mo, which is $1,048/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Grand Island?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in New York works roughly 104.3 hours a month to cover Grand Island's median rent of $2,089.
Where is rent cheaper than Grand Island for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Middletown ($2,087/mo), Middletown ($2,084/mo), Middletown ($2,080/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.