Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Moore, SC?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 64.8% of gross income.
Moore rent: September 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 Moore, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Moore
View full rent data for Moore, SC →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Moore, SC?
Median rent in Moore is $1,737 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in South Carolina earns about $32,146 a year, which makes that rent 64.8% 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 Moore?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in South Carolina (~$32,146/yr) supports up to $804 a month in rent. Moore's current median rent is $1,737/mo, which is $933/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Moore?
At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in South Carolina works roughly 112.4 hours a month to cover Moore's median rent of $1,737.
Where is rent cheaper than Moore for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Elgin ($1,736/mo), Travelers Rest ($1,736/mo), Lexington ($1,735/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.