Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Kilgore, TX?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.9% of gross income.
Kilgore rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Kilgore, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Kilgore
View full rent data for Kilgore, TX →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Kilgore, TX?
Median rent in Kilgore is $1,141 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Texas earns about $36,165 a year, which makes that rent 37.9% 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 Kilgore?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Texas (~$36,165/yr) supports up to $904 a month in rent. Kilgore's current median rent is $1,141/mo, which is $237/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Kilgore?
At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Texas works roughly 65.6 hours a month to cover Kilgore's median rent of $1,141.
Where is rent cheaper than Kilgore for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Longview ($1,140/mo), Harlingen ($1,140/mo), Harlingen ($1,140/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.