Can A Chef Afford Rent in Burlington, KY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.6% of gross income.

Burlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kentucky state estimate).

Burlington median rent
$2,050/mo
Chef salary (Kentucky)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
43.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Burlington's median rent of $2,050 exceeds that threshold by $639/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 75.5 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 Kentucky cities have lower median rent than Burlington, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Independence, KY
$2,039/mo (43.3% of income)
Independence, KY
$2,038/mo (43.3% of income)
Independence, KY
$2,028/mo (43.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Burlington

View full rent data for Burlington, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Burlington, KY?

Median rent in Burlington is $2,050 a month. A typical chef in Kentucky earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 43.6% 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 Burlington?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Kentucky (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $2,050/mo, which is $639/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Kentucky works roughly 75.5 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $2,050.

Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a chef?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Independence ($2,039/mo), Independence ($2,038/mo), Independence ($2,028/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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