Can A Chef Afford Rent in New Castle, IN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.4% of gross income.

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

New Castle median rent
$756/mo
Chef salary (Indiana)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
15.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. New Castle's median rent of $756 leaves roughly $719/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 26.6 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 New Castle, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Frankfort, IN
$752/mo (15.3% of income)
Marion, IN
$731/mo (14.9% of income)
Anderson, IN
$724/mo (14.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for New Castle

View full rent data for New Castle, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in New Castle, IN?

Median rent in New Castle is $756 a month. A typical chef in Indiana earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 15.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in New Castle?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Indiana (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. New Castle's current median rent is $756/mo, which leaves a $719/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Indiana works roughly 26.6 hours a month to cover New Castle's median rent of $756.

Where is rent cheaper than New Castle for a chef?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Frankfort ($752/mo), Marion ($731/mo), Anderson ($724/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 New Castle, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.