Can A Chef Afford Rent in Bentonville, AR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37% of gross income.

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

Bentonville median rent
$1,640/mo
Chef salary (Arkansas)
$53,245/yr
Rent as % of income
37%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,437, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,331/mo in rent. Bentonville's median rent of $1,640 exceeds that threshold by $309/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 64.1 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 Bentonville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Gentry, AR
$1,629/mo (36.7% of income)
Centerton, AR
$1,627/mo (36.7% of income)
Farmington, AR
$1,623/mo (36.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bentonville

View full rent data for Bentonville, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Bentonville, AR?

Median rent in Bentonville is $1,640 a month. A typical chef in Arkansas earns about $53,245 a year, which makes that rent 37% 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 Bentonville?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Arkansas (~$53,245/yr) supports up to $1,331 a month in rent. Bentonville's current median rent is $1,640/mo, which is $309/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a chef in Arkansas works roughly 64.1 hours a month to cover Bentonville's median rent of $1,640.

Where is rent cheaper than Bentonville for a chef?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Gentry ($1,629/mo), Centerton ($1,627/mo), Farmington ($1,623/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 Bentonville, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.