Can A Chef Afford Rent in Charlestown, IN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.3% of gross income.

Charlestown rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

Charlestown median rent
$1,636/mo
Chef salary (Indiana)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
33.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Charlestown's median rent of $1,636 exceeds that threshold by $161/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 57.7 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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than Charlestown, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Newburgh, IN
$1,632/mo (33.2% of income)
Greenfield, IN
$1,627/mo (33.1% of income)
Newburgh, IN
$1,625/mo (33% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Charlestown

View full rent data for Charlestown, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Charlestown, IN?

Median rent in Charlestown is $1,636 a month. A typical chef in Indiana earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 33.3% 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 Charlestown?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Indiana (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Charlestown's current median rent is $1,636/mo, which is $161/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Indiana works roughly 57.7 hours a month to cover Charlestown's median rent of $1,636.

Where is rent cheaper than Charlestown for a chef?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Newburgh ($1,632/mo), Greenfield ($1,627/mo), Newburgh ($1,625/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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