Can A Chef Afford Rent in Claymont, DE?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.7% of gross income.

Claymont rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware state estimate).

Claymont median rent
$1,673/mo
Chef salary (Delaware)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
30.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Claymont's median rent of $1,673 exceeds that threshold by $37/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 53.2 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 Delaware cities have lower median rent than Claymont, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Dover, DE
$1,672/mo (30.7% of income)
New Castle, DE
$1,672/mo (30.7% of income)
New Castle, DE
$1,669/mo (30.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Claymont

View full rent data for Claymont, DE

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Claymont, DE?

Median rent in Claymont is $1,673 a month. A typical chef in Delaware earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 30.7% 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 Claymont?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Delaware (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Claymont's current median rent is $1,673/mo, which is $37/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Delaware works roughly 53.2 hours a month to cover Claymont's median rent of $1,673.

Where is rent cheaper than Claymont for a chef?

Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include Dover ($1,672/mo), New Castle ($1,672/mo), New Castle ($1,669/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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