Can A Chef Afford Rent in Brandywine, MD?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.8% of gross income.

Brandywine rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Brandywine median rent
$2,817/mo
Chef salary (Maryland)
$69,282/yr
Rent as % of income
48.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,774, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,732/mo in rent. Brandywine's median rent of $2,817 exceeds that threshold by $1,085/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 84.6 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Brandywine, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Olney, MD
$2,803/mo (48.5% of income)
Derwood, MD
$2,797/mo (48.4% of income)
Derwood, MD
$2,788/mo (48.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brandywine

View full rent data for Brandywine, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Brandywine, MD?

Median rent in Brandywine is $2,817 a month. A typical chef in Maryland earns about $69,282 a year, which makes that rent 48.8% 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 Brandywine?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Maryland (~$69,282/yr) supports up to $1,732 a month in rent. Brandywine's current median rent is $2,817/mo, which is $1,085/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a chef in Maryland works roughly 84.6 hours a month to cover Brandywine's median rent of $2,817.

Where is rent cheaper than Brandywine for a chef?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Olney ($2,803/mo), Derwood ($2,797/mo), Derwood ($2,788/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 Brandywine, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.