Can A Chef Afford Rent in Russellville, AR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.2% of gross income.

Russellville rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).

Russellville median rent
$895/mo
Chef salary (Arkansas)
$53,245/yr
Rent as % of income
20.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,437, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,331/mo in rent. Russellville's median rent of $895 leaves roughly $436/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 35 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 Russellville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Morrilton, AR
$888/mo (20% of income)
Batesville, AR
$885/mo (19.9% of income)
Pine Bluff, AR
$883/mo (19.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Russellville

View full rent data for Russellville, AR →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Russellville, AR?

Median rent in Russellville is $895 a month. A typical chef in Arkansas earns about $53,245 a year, which makes that rent 20.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Russellville?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Arkansas (~$53,245/yr) supports up to $1,331 a month in rent. Russellville's current median rent is $895/mo, which leaves a $436/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a chef in Arkansas works roughly 35 hours a month to cover Russellville's median rent of $895.

Where is rent cheaper than Russellville for a chef?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Morrilton ($888/mo), Batesville ($885/mo), Pine Bluff ($883/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 Russellville, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.