Can A Chef Afford Rent in Chelsea, AL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.8% of gross income.

Chelsea rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Chelsea median rent
$2,151/mo
Chef salary (Alabama)
$55,169/yr
Rent as % of income
46.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,597, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,379/mo in rent. Chelsea's median rent of $2,151 exceeds that threshold by $772/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 81.1 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 Alabama cities have lower median rent than Chelsea, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Pike Road, AL
$2,137/mo (46.5% of income)
Fairhope, AL
$2,136/mo (46.5% of income)
Fairhope, AL
$2,128/mo (46.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chelsea

View full rent data for Chelsea, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Chelsea, AL?

Median rent in Chelsea is $2,151 a month. A typical chef in Alabama earns about $55,169 a year, which makes that rent 46.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Chelsea?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Alabama (~$55,169/yr) supports up to $1,379 a month in rent. Chelsea's current median rent is $2,151/mo, which is $772/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Alabama works roughly 81.1 hours a month to cover Chelsea's median rent of $2,151.

Where is rent cheaper than Chelsea for a chef?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Pike Road ($2,137/mo), Fairhope ($2,136/mo), Fairhope ($2,128/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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