Can A Chef Afford Rent in Chicopee, MA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.8% of gross income.
Chicopee rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).
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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Chicopee, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Chicopee
View full rent data for Chicopee, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Chicopee, MA?
Median rent in Chicopee is $1,665 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 26.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Chicopee?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Chicopee's current median rent is $1,665/mo, which leaves a $195/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Chicopee?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 46.5 hours a month to cover Chicopee's median rent of $1,665.
Where is rent cheaper than Chicopee for a chef?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Holyoke ($1,663/mo), Gardner ($1,659/mo), Gardner ($1,659/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.