Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Port Royal, SC?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.2% of gross income.
Port Royal 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 Port Royal, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Port Royal
View full rent data for Port Royal, SC →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Port Royal, SC?
Median rent in Port Royal is $1,505 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in South Carolina earns about $32,146 a year, which makes that rent 56.2% 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 Port Royal?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in South Carolina (~$32,146/yr) supports up to $804 a month in rent. Port Royal's current median rent is $1,505/mo, which is $701/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Port Royal?
At an hourly equivalent of about $15 an hour, a waiter or waitress in South Carolina works roughly 97.4 hours a month to cover Port Royal's median rent of $1,505.
Where is rent cheaper than Port Royal for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include North Augusta ($1,503/mo), Cayce ($1,502/mo), North Augusta ($1,501/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.