Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Beaufort, SC?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 67.2% of gross income.
Beaufort rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Carolina 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 South Carolina cities have lower median rent than Beaufort, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Beaufort
View full rent data for Beaufort, SC →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Beaufort, SC?
Median rent in Beaufort is $1,800 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in South Carolina earns about $32,146 a year, which makes that rent 67.2% 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 Beaufort?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in South Carolina (~$32,146/yr) supports up to $804 a month in rent. Beaufort's current median rent is $1,800/mo, which is $996/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Beaufort?
At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in South Carolina works roughly 116.5 hours a month to cover Beaufort's median rent of $1,800.
Where is rent cheaper than Beaufort for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Summerville ($1,799/mo), Summerville ($1,799/mo), Summerville ($1,798/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.