Can A Chef Afford Rent in Springdale, AR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.1% of gross income.

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

Springdale median rent
$1,513/mo
Chef salary (Arkansas)
$53,245/yr
Rent as % of income
34.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,437, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,331/mo in rent. Springdale's median rent of $1,513 exceeds that threshold by $182/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 59.1 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 Springdale, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Prairie Grove, AR
$1,511/mo (34.1% of income)
Prairie Grove, AR
$1,507/mo (34% of income)
Bentonville, AR
$1,506/mo (33.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Springdale

View full rent data for Springdale, AR

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Springdale, AR?

Median rent in Springdale is $1,513 a month. A typical chef in Arkansas earns about $53,245 a year, which makes that rent 34.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Springdale?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Arkansas (~$53,245/yr) supports up to $1,331 a month in rent. Springdale's current median rent is $1,513/mo, which is $182/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a chef in Arkansas works roughly 59.1 hours a month to cover Springdale's median rent of $1,513.

Where is rent cheaper than Springdale for a chef?

Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Prairie Grove ($1,511/mo), Prairie Grove ($1,507/mo), Bentonville ($1,506/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 Springdale, AR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.