Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Warren, RI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 65.2% of gross income.
Warren rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Warren, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Warren
View full rent data for Warren, RI →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Warren, RI?
Median rent in Warren is $2,063 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Rhode Island earns about $37,991 a year, which makes that rent 65.2% 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 Warren?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Rhode Island (~$37,991/yr) supports up to $950 a month in rent. Warren's current median rent is $2,063/mo, which is $1,113/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Warren?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Rhode Island works roughly 112.9 hours a month to cover Warren's median rent of $2,063.
Where is rent cheaper than Warren for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Lincoln ($2,059/mo), Cranston ($2,023/mo), Johnston ($2,019/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.