Can A Chef Afford Rent in Bristol, CT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.6% of gross income.

Bristol rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Connecticut state estimate).

Bristol median rent
$1,679/mo
Chef salary (Connecticut)
$70,565/yr
Rent as % of income
28.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,880, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,764/mo in rent. Bristol's median rent of $1,679 leaves roughly $85/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 49.5 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 Connecticut cities have lower median rent than Bristol, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Norwich, CT
$1,678/mo (28.5% of income)
Killingly, CT
$1,675/mo (28.5% of income)
Danbury, CT
$1,672/mo (28.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bristol

View full rent data for Bristol, CT

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Bristol, CT?

Median rent in Bristol is $1,679 a month. A typical chef in Connecticut earns about $70,565 a year, which makes that rent 28.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Bristol?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Connecticut (~$70,565/yr) supports up to $1,764 a month in rent. Bristol's current median rent is $1,679/mo, which leaves a $85/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $34 an hour, a chef in Connecticut works roughly 49.5 hours a month to cover Bristol's median rent of $1,679.

Where is rent cheaper than Bristol for a chef?

Nearby Connecticut cities with lower median rent include Norwich ($1,678/mo), Killingly ($1,675/mo), Danbury ($1,672/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Connecticut state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Bristol, CT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.