Can A Chef Afford Rent in Russellville, AR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.5% of gross income.

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

Russellville median rent
$1,000/mo
Chef salary (Arkansas)
$53,245/yr
Rent as % of income
22.5%
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 $1,000 leaves roughly $331/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 39.1 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 Russellville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Fort Smith, AR
$998/mo (22.5% of income)
Fort Smith, AR
$997/mo (22.5% of income)
Jacksonville, AR
$997/mo (22.5% 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 $1,000 a month. A typical chef in Arkansas earns about $53,245 a year, which makes that rent 22.5% 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 $1,000/mo, which leaves a $331/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 39.1 hours a month to cover Russellville's median rent of $1,000.

Where is rent cheaper than Russellville for a chef?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Fort Smith ($998/mo), Fort Smith ($997/mo), Jacksonville ($997/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.