Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Casper, WY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.6% of gross income.

Casper rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wyoming state estimate).

Casper median rent
$1,363/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Wyoming)
$34,338/yr
Rent as % of income
47.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,862, and the 30% rule supports up to $858/mo in rent. Casper's median rent of $1,363 exceeds that threshold by $505/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 82.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Wyoming cities have lower median rent than Casper, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:

Cody, WY
$1,355/mo (47.4% of income)
Lander, WY
$1,325/mo (46.3% of income)
Cody, WY
$1,269/mo (44.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Casper

View full rent data for Casper, WY

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Casper, WY?

Median rent in Casper is $1,363 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Wyoming earns about $34,338 a year, which makes that rent 47.6% 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 Casper?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Wyoming (~$34,338/yr) supports up to $858 a month in rent. Casper's current median rent is $1,363/mo, which is $505/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Casper?

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Wyoming works roughly 82.6 hours a month to cover Casper's median rent of $1,363.

Where is rent cheaper than Casper for a waiter or waitress?

Nearby Wyoming cities with lower median rent include Cody ($1,355/mo), Lander ($1,325/mo), Cody ($1,269/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Wyoming state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Casper, WY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.