Can A Chef Afford Rent in Leesville, LA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.1% of gross income.

Leesville rent: August 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Louisiana state estimate).

Leesville median rent
$1,166/mo
Chef salary (Louisiana)
$55,811/yr
Rent as % of income
25.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,651, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,395/mo in rent. Leesville's median rent of $1,166 leaves roughly $229/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 43.5 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 Louisiana cities have lower median rent than Leesville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Thibodaux, LA
$1,165/mo (25% of income)
Lake Charles, LA
$1,165/mo (25% of income)
New Iberia, LA
$1,164/mo (25% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Leesville

View full rent data for Leesville, LA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Leesville, LA?

Median rent in Leesville is $1,166 a month. A typical chef in Louisiana earns about $55,811 a year, which makes that rent 25.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Leesville?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Louisiana (~$55,811/yr) supports up to $1,395 a month in rent. Leesville's current median rent is $1,166/mo, which leaves a $229/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Louisiana works roughly 43.5 hours a month to cover Leesville's median rent of $1,166.

Where is rent cheaper than Leesville for a chef?

Nearby Louisiana cities with lower median rent include Thibodaux ($1,165/mo), Lake Charles ($1,165/mo), New Iberia ($1,164/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Louisiana state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Leesville, LA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.