Can A Chef Afford Rent in Leominster, MA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31% of gross income.

Leominster rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Massachusetts state estimate).

Leominster median rent
$1,920/mo
Chef salary (Massachusetts)
$74,414/yr
Rent as % of income
31%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,201, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,860/mo in rent. Leominster's median rent of $1,920 exceeds that threshold by $60/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 53.7 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 Leominster, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

New Bedford, MA
$1,916/mo (30.9% of income)
Westfield, MA
$1,910/mo (30.8% of income)
New Bedford, MA
$1,906/mo (30.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Leominster

View full rent data for Leominster, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Leominster, MA?

Median rent in Leominster is $1,920 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 31% 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 Leominster?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Leominster's current median rent is $1,920/mo, which is $60/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 53.7 hours a month to cover Leominster's median rent of $1,920.

Where is rent cheaper than Leominster for a chef?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include New Bedford ($1,916/mo), Westfield ($1,910/mo), New Bedford ($1,906/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 Leominster, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.