Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Youngstown, OH?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 38% of gross income.
Youngstown 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 Youngstown, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Youngstown
View full rent data for Youngstown, OH →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Youngstown, OH?
Median rent in Youngstown is $1,087 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Ohio earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 38% 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 Youngstown?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Ohio (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Youngstown's current median rent is $1,087/mo, which is $229/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Youngstown?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Ohio works roughly 65.8 hours a month to cover Youngstown's median rent of $1,087.
Where is rent cheaper than Youngstown for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Bedford Heights ($1,086/mo), Fairview Park ($1,085/mo), Vandalia ($1,084/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.