Can A Chef Afford Rent in Mary Esther, FL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.6% of gross income.

Mary Esther rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Florida state estimate).

Mary Esther median rent
$2,116/mo
Chef salary (Florida)
$59,660/yr
Rent as % of income
42.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,972, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Mary Esther's median rent of $2,116 exceeds that threshold by $624/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 73.8 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 Florida cities have lower median rent than Mary Esther, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Seffner, FL
$2,115/mo (42.5% of income)
Sun City Center, FL
$2,115/mo (42.5% of income)
Oviedo, FL
$2,115/mo (42.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Mary Esther

View full rent data for Mary Esther, FL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Mary Esther, FL?

Median rent in Mary Esther is $2,116 a month. A typical chef in Florida earns about $59,660 a year, which makes that rent 42.6% 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 Mary Esther?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Florida (~$59,660/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Mary Esther's current median rent is $2,116/mo, which is $624/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Florida works roughly 73.8 hours a month to cover Mary Esther's median rent of $2,116.

Where is rent cheaper than Mary Esther for a chef?

Nearby Florida cities with lower median rent include Seffner ($2,115/mo), Sun City Center ($2,115/mo), Oviedo ($2,115/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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