Can A Chef Afford Rent in Homewood, AL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.5% of gross income.

Homewood rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alabama state estimate).

Homewood median rent
$1,447/mo
Chef salary (Alabama)
$55,169/yr
Rent as % of income
31.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,597, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,379/mo in rent. Homewood's median rent of $1,447 exceeds that threshold by $68/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 54.6 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 Homewood, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Wetumpka, AL
$1,444/mo (31.4% of income)
Tuscaloosa, AL
$1,443/mo (31.4% of income)
Northport, AL
$1,443/mo (31.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Homewood

View full rent data for Homewood, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Homewood, AL?

Median rent in Homewood is $1,447 a month. A typical chef in Alabama earns about $55,169 a year, which makes that rent 31.5% 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 Homewood?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Alabama (~$55,169/yr) supports up to $1,379 a month in rent. Homewood's current median rent is $1,447/mo, which is $68/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Alabama works roughly 54.6 hours a month to cover Homewood's median rent of $1,447.

Where is rent cheaper than Homewood for a chef?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Wetumpka ($1,444/mo), Tuscaloosa ($1,443/mo), Northport ($1,443/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 Homewood, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.