Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Cheney, WA?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.4% of gross income.
Cheney rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Cheney, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Cheney
View full rent data for Cheney, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Cheney, WA?
Median rent in Cheney is $1,343 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Washington earns about $40,914 a year, which makes that rent 39.4% 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 Cheney?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Washington (~$40,914/yr) supports up to $1,023 a month in rent. Cheney's current median rent is $1,343/mo, which is $320/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Cheney?
At an hourly equivalent of about $20 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Washington works roughly 68.3 hours a month to cover Cheney's median rent of $1,343.
Where is rent cheaper than Cheney for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Aberdeen ($1,339/mo), Kelso ($1,339/mo), Centralia ($1,338/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.