Can A Chef Afford Rent in Albany, GA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 18.5% of gross income.

Albany rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Georgia state estimate).

Albany median rent
$937/mo
Chef salary (Georgia)
$60,943/yr
Rent as % of income
18.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,079, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,524/mo in rent. Albany's median rent of $937 leaves roughly $587/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 32 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 Georgia cities have lower median rent than Albany, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Valdosta, GA
$933/mo (18.4% of income)
Chatsworth, GA
$930/mo (18.3% of income)
Macon, GA
$929/mo (18.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Albany

View full rent data for Albany, GA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Albany, GA?

Median rent in Albany is $937 a month. A typical chef in Georgia earns about $60,943 a year, which makes that rent 18.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Albany?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Georgia (~$60,943/yr) supports up to $1,524 a month in rent. Albany's current median rent is $937/mo, which leaves a $587/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Georgia works roughly 32 hours a month to cover Albany's median rent of $937.

Where is rent cheaper than Albany for a chef?

Nearby Georgia cities with lower median rent include Valdosta ($933/mo), Chatsworth ($930/mo), Macon ($929/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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