Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Southampton, NY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 503.8% of gross income.

Southampton rent: April 2020. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New York state estimate).

Southampton median rent
$17,483/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (New York)
$41,644/yr
Rent as % of income
503.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,470, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,041/mo in rent. Southampton's median rent of $17,483 exceeds that threshold by $16,442/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 873.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Southampton, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Hampton Bays, NY
$16,499/mo (475.4% of income)
Southold, NY
$16,250/mo (468.3% of income)
Hampton Bays, NY
$13,103/mo (377.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Southampton

View full rent data for Southampton, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Southampton, NY?

Median rent in Southampton is $17,483 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in New York earns about $41,644 a year, which makes that rent 503.8% 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 Southampton?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in New York (~$41,644/yr) supports up to $1,041 a month in rent. Southampton's current median rent is $17,483/mo, which is $16,442/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Southampton?

At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in New York works roughly 873.2 hours a month to cover Southampton's median rent of $17,483.

Where is rent cheaper than Southampton for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Hampton Bays ($16,499/mo), Southold ($16,250/mo), Hampton Bays ($13,103/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived New York state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Southampton, NY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.