Can A Chef Afford Rent in Fairbanks, AK?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.4% of gross income.
Fairbanks rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alaska state estimate).
About rent and a chef salary
Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Alaska cities have lower median rent than Fairbanks, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fairbanks
View full rent data for Fairbanks, AK →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Fairbanks, AK?
Median rent in Fairbanks is $1,762 a month. A typical chef in Alaska earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 29.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Fairbanks?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Alaska (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Fairbanks's current median rent is $1,762/mo, which leaves a $34/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Fairbanks?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in Alaska works roughly 51 hours a month to cover Fairbanks's median rent of $1,762.
Where is rent cheaper than Fairbanks for a chef?
Nearby Alaska cities with lower median rent include Wasilla ($1,760/mo), Wasilla ($1,730/mo), Anchorage ($1,730/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.