Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Great Falls, VA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 166.4% of gross income.
Great Falls rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia 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 Virginia cities have lower median rent than Great Falls, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Great Falls
View full rent data for Great Falls, VA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Great Falls, VA?
Median rent in Great Falls is $5,167 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Virginia earns about $37,261 a year, which makes that rent 166.4% 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 Great Falls?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Virginia (~$37,261/yr) supports up to $932 a month in rent. Great Falls's current median rent is $5,167/mo, which is $4,235/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Great Falls?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Virginia works roughly 288.4 hours a month to cover Great Falls's median rent of $5,167.
Where is rent cheaper than Great Falls for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Fort Hunt ($4,549/mo), Fort Hunt ($4,375/mo), Fort Hunt ($4,100/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.