Can A Chef Afford Rent in Peabody, MA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.3% of gross income.

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

Peabody median rent
$2,812/mo
Chef salary (Massachusetts)
$74,414/yr
Rent as % of income
45.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,201, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,860/mo in rent. Peabody's median rent of $2,812 exceeds that threshold by $952/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 78.6 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 Peabody, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Danvers, MA
$2,811/mo (45.3% of income)
Sharon, MA
$2,809/mo (45.3% of income)
Hanover, MA
$2,809/mo (45.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Peabody

View full rent data for Peabody, MA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Peabody, MA?

Median rent in Peabody is $2,812 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 45.3% 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 Peabody?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Peabody's current median rent is $2,812/mo, which is $952/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 78.6 hours a month to cover Peabody's median rent of $2,812.

Where is rent cheaper than Peabody for a chef?

Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Danvers ($2,811/mo), Sharon ($2,809/mo), Hanover ($2,809/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 Peabody, MA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.