Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Edmond, OK?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 61.3% of gross income.

Edmond rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oklahoma state estimate).

Edmond median rent
$1,642/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Oklahoma)
$32,146/yr
Rent as % of income
61.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,679, and the 30% rule supports up to $804/mo in rent. Edmond's median rent of $1,642 exceeds that threshold by $838/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 106.2 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 Oklahoma cities have lower median rent than Edmond, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Collinsville, OK
$1,607/mo (60% of income)
Piedmont, OK
$1,607/mo (60% of income)
Piedmont, OK
$1,602/mo (59.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Edmond

View full rent data for Edmond, OK →

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Edmond, OK?

Median rent in Edmond is $1,642 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Oklahoma earns about $32,146 a year, which makes that rent 61.3% 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 Edmond?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Oklahoma (~$32,146/yr) supports up to $804 a month in rent. Edmond's current median rent is $1,642/mo, which is $838/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Oklahoma works roughly 106.2 hours a month to cover Edmond's median rent of $1,642.

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

Nearby Oklahoma cities with lower median rent include Collinsville ($1,607/mo), Piedmont ($1,607/mo), Piedmont ($1,602/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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