Can A Chef Afford Rent in Pine Bluff, AR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.2% of gross income.

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

Pine Bluff median rent
$853/mo
Chef salary (Arkansas)
$53,245/yr
Rent as % of income
19.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,437, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,331/mo in rent. Pine Bluff's median rent of $853 leaves roughly $478/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 33.3 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 Pine Bluff, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Morrilton, AR
$800/mo (18% of income)
North Little Rock, AR
$782/mo (17.6% of income)
Fort Smith, AR
$762/mo (17.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pine Bluff

View full rent data for Pine Bluff, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Pine Bluff, AR?

Median rent in Pine Bluff is $853 a month. A typical chef in Arkansas earns about $53,245 a year, which makes that rent 19.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Pine Bluff?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Arkansas (~$53,245/yr) supports up to $1,331 a month in rent. Pine Bluff's current median rent is $853/mo, which leaves a $478/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a chef in Arkansas works roughly 33.3 hours a month to cover Pine Bluff's median rent of $853.

Where is rent cheaper than Pine Bluff for a chef?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Morrilton ($800/mo), North Little Rock ($782/mo), Fort Smith ($762/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 Pine Bluff, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.