Can A Chef Afford Rent in Dothan, AL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.3% of gross income.

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

Dothan median rent
$1,207/mo
Chef salary (Alabama)
$55,169/yr
Rent as % of income
26.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,597, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,379/mo in rent. Dothan's median rent of $1,207 leaves roughly $172/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 45.5 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 Dothan, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Florence, AL
$1,206/mo (26.2% of income)
Florence, AL
$1,206/mo (26.2% of income)
Hueytown, AL
$1,205/mo (26.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dothan

View full rent data for Dothan, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Dothan, AL?

Median rent in Dothan is $1,207 a month. A typical chef in Alabama earns about $55,169 a year, which makes that rent 26.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Dothan?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Alabama (~$55,169/yr) supports up to $1,379 a month in rent. Dothan's current median rent is $1,207/mo, which leaves a $172/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Alabama works roughly 45.5 hours a month to cover Dothan's median rent of $1,207.

Where is rent cheaper than Dothan for a chef?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Florence ($1,206/mo), Florence ($1,206/mo), Hueytown ($1,205/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 Dothan, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.