Can A Chef Afford Rent in Hazel Green, AL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.2% of gross income.

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

Hazel Green median rent
$1,663/mo
Chef salary (Alabama)
$55,169/yr
Rent as % of income
36.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,597, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,379/mo in rent. Hazel Green's median rent of $1,663 exceeds that threshold by $284/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 62.7 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 Hazel Green, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Opelika, AL
$1,662/mo (36.2% of income)
Auburn, AL
$1,660/mo (36.1% of income)
Harvest, AL
$1,660/mo (36.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hazel Green

View full rent data for Hazel Green, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Hazel Green, AL?

Median rent in Hazel Green is $1,663 a month. A typical chef in Alabama earns about $55,169 a year, which makes that rent 36.2% 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 Hazel Green?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Alabama (~$55,169/yr) supports up to $1,379 a month in rent. Hazel Green's current median rent is $1,663/mo, which is $284/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Alabama works roughly 62.7 hours a month to cover Hazel Green's median rent of $1,663.

Where is rent cheaper than Hazel Green for a chef?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Opelika ($1,662/mo), Auburn ($1,660/mo), Harvest ($1,660/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 Hazel Green, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.