Can A Chef Afford Rent in Dundalk, MD?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.3% of gross income.
Dundalk rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland 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 Maryland cities have lower median rent than Dundalk, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Dundalk
View full rent data for Dundalk, MD →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Dundalk, MD?
Median rent in Dundalk is $1,460 a month. A typical chef in Maryland earns about $69,282 a year, which makes that rent 25.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Dundalk?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Maryland (~$69,282/yr) supports up to $1,732 a month in rent. Dundalk's current median rent is $1,460/mo, which leaves a $272/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Dundalk?
At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a chef in Maryland works roughly 43.8 hours a month to cover Dundalk's median rent of $1,460.
Where is rent cheaper than Dundalk for a chef?
Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Reisterstown ($1,459/mo), Lochearn ($1,459/mo), Lochearn ($1,459/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.