Can A Chef Afford Rent in Barling, AR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.1% of gross income.

Barling rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Barling median rent
$1,026/mo
Chef salary (Arkansas)
$53,245/yr
Rent as % of income
23.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,437, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,331/mo in rent. Barling's median rent of $1,026 leaves roughly $305/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 40.1 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 Arkansas cities have lower median rent than Barling, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Fort Smith, AR
$1,025/mo (23.1% of income)
Jacksonville, AR
$1,025/mo (23.1% of income)
Mountain Home, AR
$1,025/mo (23.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Barling

View full rent data for Barling, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Barling, AR?

Median rent in Barling is $1,026 a month. A typical chef in Arkansas earns about $53,245 a year, which makes that rent 23.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Barling?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Arkansas (~$53,245/yr) supports up to $1,331 a month in rent. Barling's current median rent is $1,026/mo, which leaves a $305/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a chef in Arkansas works roughly 40.1 hours a month to cover Barling's median rent of $1,026.

Where is rent cheaper than Barling for a chef?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Fort Smith ($1,025/mo), Jacksonville ($1,025/mo), Mountain Home ($1,025/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Arkansas state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Barling, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.