Can A Chef Afford Rent in Kenai, AK?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.3% of gross income.

Kenai rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alaska state estimate).

Kenai median rent
$1,693/mo
Chef salary (Alaska)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
28.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. Kenai's median rent of $1,693 leaves roughly $103/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 49 hours a month to cover that rent.

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 Kenai, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Anchorage, AK
$1,692/mo (28.3% of income)
Wasilla, AK
$1,691/mo (28.2% of income)
Wasilla, AK
$1,690/mo (28.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kenai

View full rent data for Kenai, AK

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Kenai, AK?

Median rent in Kenai is $1,693 a month. A typical chef in Alaska earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 28.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Kenai?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Alaska (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Kenai's current median rent is $1,693/mo, which leaves a $103/mo buffer.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Kenai?

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in Alaska works roughly 49 hours a month to cover Kenai's median rent of $1,693.

Where is rent cheaper than Kenai for a chef?

Nearby Alaska cities with lower median rent include Anchorage ($1,692/mo), Wasilla ($1,691/mo), Wasilla ($1,690/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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