Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Plymouth Meeting, PA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 75.3% of gross income.

Plymouth Meeting rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Plymouth Meeting median rent
$2,270/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Pennsylvania)
$36,165/yr
Rent as % of income
75.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,014, and the 30% rule supports up to $904/mo in rent. Plymouth Meeting's median rent of $2,270 exceeds that threshold by $1,366/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 130.6 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Plymouth Meeting, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Paoli, PA
$2,269/mo (75.3% of income)
Glen Mills, PA
$2,269/mo (75.3% of income)
Kennett Square, PA
$2,269/mo (75.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Plymouth Meeting

View full rent data for Plymouth Meeting, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Plymouth Meeting, PA?

Median rent in Plymouth Meeting is $2,270 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania earns about $36,165 a year, which makes that rent 75.3% 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 Plymouth Meeting?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Pennsylvania (~$36,165/yr) supports up to $904 a month in rent. Plymouth Meeting's current median rent is $2,270/mo, which is $1,366/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Pennsylvania works roughly 130.6 hours a month to cover Plymouth Meeting's median rent of $2,270.

Where is rent cheaper than Plymouth Meeting for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Paoli ($2,269/mo), Glen Mills ($2,269/mo), Kennett Square ($2,269/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

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