Can A Chef Afford Rent in Nicholasville, KY?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.9% of gross income.

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

Nicholasville median rent
$1,546/mo
Chef salary (Kentucky)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
32.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Nicholasville's median rent of $1,546 exceeds that threshold by $135/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 57 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 Nicholasville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Shepherdsville, KY
$1,543/mo (32.8% of income)
Newport, KY
$1,540/mo (32.7% of income)
Georgetown, KY
$1,539/mo (32.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Nicholasville

View full rent data for Nicholasville, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Nicholasville, KY?

Median rent in Nicholasville is $1,546 a month. A typical chef in Kentucky earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 32.9% 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 Nicholasville?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Kentucky (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Nicholasville's current median rent is $1,546/mo, which is $135/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Kentucky works roughly 57 hours a month to cover Nicholasville's median rent of $1,546.

Where is rent cheaper than Nicholasville for a chef?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Shepherdsville ($1,543/mo), Newport ($1,540/mo), Georgetown ($1,539/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 Nicholasville, KY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.