Can A Chef Afford Rent in Pine Bluff, AR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.7% of gross income.

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

Pine Bluff median rent
$919/mo
Chef salary (Arkansas)
$53,245/yr
Rent as % of income
20.7%
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 $919 leaves roughly $412/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 35.9 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:

Russellville, AR
$914/mo (20.6% of income)
Russellville, AR
$905/mo (20.4% of income)
Paragould, AR
$900/mo (20.3% 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 $919 a month. A typical chef in Arkansas earns about $53,245 a year, which makes that rent 20.7% 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 $919/mo, which leaves a $412/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 35.9 hours a month to cover Pine Bluff's median rent of $919.

Where is rent cheaper than Pine Bluff for a chef?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Russellville ($914/mo), Russellville ($905/mo), Paragould ($900/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.