Can A Chef Afford Rent in Montgomery, AL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.3% of gross income.

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

Montgomery median rent
$1,347/mo
Chef salary (Alabama)
$55,169/yr
Rent as % of income
29.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,597, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,379/mo in rent. Montgomery's median rent of $1,347 leaves roughly $32/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.8 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 Montgomery, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Grayson Valley, AL
$1,345/mo (29.3% of income)
Hoover, AL
$1,345/mo (29.3% of income)
Center Point, AL
$1,344/mo (29.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Montgomery

View full rent data for Montgomery, AL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Montgomery, AL?

Median rent in Montgomery is $1,347 a month. A typical chef in Alabama earns about $55,169 a year, which makes that rent 29.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Montgomery?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Alabama (~$55,169/yr) supports up to $1,379 a month in rent. Montgomery's current median rent is $1,347/mo, which leaves a $32/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Alabama works roughly 50.8 hours a month to cover Montgomery's median rent of $1,347.

Where is rent cheaper than Montgomery for a chef?

Nearby Alabama cities with lower median rent include Grayson Valley ($1,345/mo), Hoover ($1,345/mo), Center Point ($1,344/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 Montgomery, AL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.