Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in East Cleveland, OH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.9% of gross income.

East Cleveland rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

East Cleveland median rent
$771/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Ohio)
$34,338/yr
Rent as % of income
26.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $858/mo in rent. East Cleveland's median rent of $771 leaves roughly $87/mo of headroom under that threshold. A waiter or waitress works roughly 46.7 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than East Cleveland, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Steubenville, OH
$765/mo (26.7% of income)
Greenville, OH
$754/mo (26.3% of income)
Canton, OH
$750/mo (26.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for East Cleveland

View full rent data for East Cleveland, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in East Cleveland, OH?

Median rent in East Cleveland is $771 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Ohio earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 26.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in East Cleveland?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Ohio (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. East Cleveland's current median rent is $771/mo, which leaves a $87/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Ohio works roughly 46.7 hours a month to cover East Cleveland's median rent of $771.

Where is rent cheaper than East Cleveland for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Steubenville ($765/mo), Greenville ($754/mo), Canton ($750/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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