Can A Chef Afford Rent in Lewes, DE?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.9% of gross income.

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

Lewes median rent
$2,339/mo
Chef salary (Delaware)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
42.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Lewes's median rent of $2,339 exceeds that threshold by $703/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 74.4 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 Lewes, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Bear, DE
$2,330/mo (42.7% of income)
Bear, DE
$2,311/mo (42.4% of income)
Bear, DE
$2,280/mo (41.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lewes

View full rent data for Lewes, DE

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Lewes, DE?

Median rent in Lewes is $2,339 a month. A typical chef in Delaware earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 42.9% 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 Lewes?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Delaware (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Lewes's current median rent is $2,339/mo, which is $703/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Delaware works roughly 74.4 hours a month to cover Lewes's median rent of $2,339.

Where is rent cheaper than Lewes for a chef?

Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include Bear ($2,330/mo), Bear ($2,311/mo), Bear ($2,280/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 Lewes, DE. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.