Can A Chef Afford Rent in District Heights, MD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.7% of gross income.

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

District Heights median rent
$1,658/mo
Chef salary (Maryland)
$69,282/yr
Rent as % of income
28.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,774, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,732/mo in rent. District Heights's median rent of $1,658 leaves roughly $74/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 49.8 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 District Heights, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Robinwood, MD
$1,657/mo (28.7% of income)
Chillum, MD
$1,657/mo (28.7% of income)
Brooklyn Park, MD
$1,656/mo (28.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for District Heights

View full rent data for District Heights, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in District Heights, MD?

Median rent in District Heights is $1,658 a month. A typical chef in Maryland earns about $69,282 a year, which makes that rent 28.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in District Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Maryland (~$69,282/yr) supports up to $1,732 a month in rent. District Heights's current median rent is $1,658/mo, which leaves a $74/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a chef in Maryland works roughly 49.8 hours a month to cover District Heights's median rent of $1,658.

Where is rent cheaper than District Heights for a chef?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Robinwood ($1,657/mo), Chillum ($1,657/mo), Brooklyn Park ($1,656/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 District Heights, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.