Can A Chef Afford Rent in Richmond, KY?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.3% of gross income.

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

Richmond median rent
$1,188/mo
Chef salary (Kentucky)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
25.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Richmond's median rent of $1,188 leaves roughly $223/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 43.8 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 Richmond, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Oak Grove, KY
$1,185/mo (25.2% of income)
Murray, KY
$1,184/mo (25.2% of income)
Paducah, KY
$1,183/mo (25.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Richmond

View full rent data for Richmond, KY

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Richmond, KY?

Median rent in Richmond is $1,188 a month. A typical chef in Kentucky earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 25.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Richmond?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Kentucky (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Richmond's current median rent is $1,188/mo, which leaves a $223/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Kentucky works roughly 43.8 hours a month to cover Richmond's median rent of $1,188.

Where is rent cheaper than Richmond for a chef?

Nearby Kentucky cities with lower median rent include Oak Grove ($1,185/mo), Murray ($1,184/mo), Paducah ($1,183/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 Richmond, KY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.