Can A Chef Afford Rent in Winchester, MA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.5% of gross income.
Winchester 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 Winchester, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Winchester
View full rent data for Winchester, MA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Winchester, MA?
Median rent in Winchester is $3,191 a month. A typical chef in Massachusetts earns about $74,414 a year, which makes that rent 51.5% 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 Winchester?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Massachusetts (~$74,414/yr) supports up to $1,860 a month in rent. Winchester's current median rent is $3,191/mo, which is $1,331/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Winchester?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in Massachusetts works roughly 89.2 hours a month to cover Winchester's median rent of $3,191.
Where is rent cheaper than Winchester for a chef?
Nearby Massachusetts cities with lower median rent include Bedford ($3,190/mo), Wilmington ($3,189/mo), Boston ($3,188/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.