Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Dayton, OH?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.2% of gross income.
Dayton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Dayton, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Dayton
View full rent data for Dayton, OH →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Dayton, OH?
Median rent in Dayton is $1,207 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Ohio earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 42.2% 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 Dayton?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Ohio (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Dayton's current median rent is $1,207/mo, which is $349/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Dayton?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Ohio works roughly 73.1 hours a month to cover Dayton's median rent of $1,207.
Where is rent cheaper than Dayton for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Mayfield Heights ($1,206/mo), Euclid ($1,205/mo), Lancaster ($1,205/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.