Can A Chef Afford Rent in Aberdeen, MD?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.5% of gross income.

Aberdeen rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Aberdeen median rent
$1,933/mo
Chef salary (Maryland)
$69,282/yr
Rent as % of income
33.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,774, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,732/mo in rent. Aberdeen's median rent of $1,933 exceeds that threshold by $201/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 58 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Aberdeen, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Chevy Chase, MD
$1,932/mo (33.5% of income)
Hanover, MD
$1,932/mo (33.5% of income)
Towson, MD
$1,932/mo (33.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Aberdeen

View full rent data for Aberdeen, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Aberdeen, MD?

Median rent in Aberdeen is $1,933 a month. A typical chef in Maryland earns about $69,282 a year, which makes that rent 33.5% 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 Aberdeen?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Maryland (~$69,282/yr) supports up to $1,732 a month in rent. Aberdeen's current median rent is $1,933/mo, which is $201/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a chef in Maryland works roughly 58 hours a month to cover Aberdeen's median rent of $1,933.

Where is rent cheaper than Aberdeen for a chef?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Chevy Chase ($1,932/mo), Hanover ($1,932/mo), Towson ($1,932/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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