Can A Chef Afford Rent in Elizabethtown, KY?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.2% of gross income.

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

Elizabethtown median rent
$1,278/mo
Chef salary (Kentucky)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
27.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Elizabethtown's median rent of $1,278 leaves roughly $133/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 47.1 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 Elizabethtown, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Bowling Green, KY
$1,277/mo (27.1% of income)
Paris, KY
$1,274/mo (27.1% of income)
Erlanger, KY
$1,271/mo (27% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elizabethtown

View full rent data for Elizabethtown, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Elizabethtown, KY?

Median rent in Elizabethtown is $1,278 a month. A typical chef in Kentucky earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 27.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Elizabethtown?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Kentucky (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Elizabethtown's current median rent is $1,278/mo, which leaves a $133/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Kentucky works roughly 47.1 hours a month to cover Elizabethtown's median rent of $1,278.

Where is rent cheaper than Elizabethtown for a chef?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Bowling Green ($1,277/mo), Paris ($1,274/mo), Erlanger ($1,271/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 Elizabethtown, KY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.