Can A Chef Afford Rent in Fultondale, AL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.8% of gross income.

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

Fultondale median rent
$1,599/mo
Chef salary (Alabama)
$55,169/yr
Rent as % of income
34.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,597, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,379/mo in rent. Fultondale's median rent of $1,599 exceeds that threshold by $220/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 60.3 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 Fultondale, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Auburn, AL
$1,597/mo (34.7% of income)
Auburn, AL
$1,597/mo (34.7% of income)
Homewood, AL
$1,596/mo (34.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fultondale

View full rent data for Fultondale, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Fultondale, AL?

Median rent in Fultondale is $1,599 a month. A typical chef in Alabama earns about $55,169 a year, which makes that rent 34.8% 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 Fultondale?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Alabama (~$55,169/yr) supports up to $1,379 a month in rent. Fultondale's current median rent is $1,599/mo, which is $220/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Alabama works roughly 60.3 hours a month to cover Fultondale's median rent of $1,599.

Where is rent cheaper than Fultondale for a chef?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Auburn ($1,597/mo), Auburn ($1,597/mo), Homewood ($1,596/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 Fultondale, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.