Can A Chef Afford Rent in Owensboro, KY?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.8% of gross income.

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

Owensboro median rent
$1,121/mo
Chef salary (Kentucky)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
23.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Owensboro's median rent of $1,121 leaves roughly $290/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 41.3 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 Owensboro, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Oak Grove, KY
$1,120/mo (23.8% of income)
Lawrenceburg, KY
$1,120/mo (23.8% of income)
Covington, KY
$1,115/mo (23.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Owensboro

View full rent data for Owensboro, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Owensboro, KY?

Median rent in Owensboro is $1,121 a month. A typical chef in Kentucky earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 23.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Owensboro?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Kentucky (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Owensboro's current median rent is $1,121/mo, which leaves a $290/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Kentucky works roughly 41.3 hours a month to cover Owensboro's median rent of $1,121.

Where is rent cheaper than Owensboro for a chef?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Oak Grove ($1,120/mo), Lawrenceburg ($1,120/mo), Covington ($1,115/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 Owensboro, KY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.