Can A Chef Afford Rent in Dayton, KY?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.3% of gross income.

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

Dayton median rent
$2,037/mo
Chef salary (Kentucky)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
43.3%
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 $2,037 exceeds that threshold by $626/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 75.1 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:

Independence, KY
$2,028/mo (43.1% of income)
Independence, KY
$2,023/mo (43% of income)
Burlington, KY
$2,018/mo (42.9% 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 $2,037 a month. A typical chef in Kentucky earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 43.3% 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 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 $2,037/mo, which is $626/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 75.1 hours a month to cover Dayton's median rent of $2,037.

Where is rent cheaper than Dayton for a chef?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Independence ($2,028/mo), Independence ($2,023/mo), Burlington ($2,018/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.