Can A Chef Afford Rent in Van Buren, AR?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.2% of gross income.
Van Buren rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arkansas state estimate).
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 Van Buren, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Van Buren
View full rent data for Van Buren, AR →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Van Buren, AR?
Median rent in Van Buren is $1,028 a month. A typical chef in Arkansas earns about $53,245 a year, which makes that rent 23.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Van Buren?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Arkansas (~$53,245/yr) supports up to $1,331 a month in rent. Van Buren's current median rent is $1,028/mo, which leaves a $303/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Van Buren?
At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a chef in Arkansas works roughly 40.2 hours a month to cover Van Buren's median rent of $1,028.
Where is rent cheaper than Van Buren for a chef?
Nearby Arkansas cities with lower median rent include Barling ($1,026/mo), Jacksonville ($1,025/mo), Barling ($1,025/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.