Can A Chef Afford Rent in Dayton, KY?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.7% of gross income.

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

Dayton median rent
$1,869/mo
Chef salary (Kentucky)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
39.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Dayton's median rent of $1,869 exceeds that threshold by $458/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 68.9 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 Dayton, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Versailles, KY
$1,822/mo (38.7% of income)
Versailles, KY
$1,807/mo (38.4% of income)
La Grange, KY
$1,795/mo (38.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dayton

View full rent data for Dayton, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Dayton, KY?

Median rent in Dayton is $1,869 a month. A typical chef in Kentucky earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 39.7% 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 Dayton?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Kentucky (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Dayton's current median rent is $1,869/mo, which is $458/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Kentucky works roughly 68.9 hours a month to cover Dayton's median rent of $1,869.

Where is rent cheaper than Dayton for a chef?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Versailles ($1,822/mo), Versailles ($1,807/mo), La Grange ($1,795/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 Dayton, KY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.