Can A Chef Afford Rent in Fort Smith, AR?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24% of gross income.
Fort Smith rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).
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 Fort Smith, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fort Smith
View full rent data for Fort Smith, AR →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Fort Smith, AR?
Median rent in Fort Smith is $1,063 a month. A typical chef in Arkansas earns about $53,245 a year, which makes that rent 24% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Fort Smith?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Arkansas (~$53,245/yr) supports up to $1,331 a month in rent. Fort Smith's current median rent is $1,063/mo, which leaves a $268/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Fort Smith?
At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a chef in Arkansas works roughly 41.5 hours a month to cover Fort Smith's median rent of $1,063.
Where is rent cheaper than Fort Smith for a chef?
Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Van Buren ($1,059/mo), Searcy ($1,059/mo), Searcy ($1,056/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.