Can A Chef Afford Rent in Kingston, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.1% of gross income.

Kingston rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Kingston median rent
$2,737/mo
Chef salary (Massachusetts)
$74,414/yr
Rent as % of income
44.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,201, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,860/mo in rent. Kingston's median rent of $2,737 exceeds that threshold by $877/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 76.5 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 Massachusetts cities have lower median rent than Kingston, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Marblehead, MA
$2,736/mo (44.1% of income)
Ashland, MA
$2,736/mo (44.1% of income)
North Andover, MA
$2,735/mo (44.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kingston

View full rent data for Kingston, MA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Kingston, MA?

Median rent in Kingston is $2,737 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 44.1% 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 Kingston?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Kingston's current median rent is $2,737/mo, which is $877/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 76.5 hours a month to cover Kingston's median rent of $2,737.

Where is rent cheaper than Kingston for a chef?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Marblehead ($2,736/mo), Ashland ($2,736/mo), North Andover ($2,735/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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