Can A Chef Afford Rent in Havre de Grace, MD?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.5% of gross income.

Havre de Grace rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maryland state estimate).

Havre de Grace median rent
$1,818/mo
Chef salary (Maryland)
$69,282/yr
Rent as % of income
31.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,774, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,732/mo in rent. Havre de Grace's median rent of $1,818 exceeds that threshold by $86/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 54.6 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 Havre de Grace, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Middle River, MD
$1,817/mo (31.5% of income)
Elkton, MD
$1,816/mo (31.5% of income)
Towson, MD
$1,815/mo (31.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Havre de Grace

View full rent data for Havre de Grace, MD

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Havre de Grace, MD?

Median rent in Havre de Grace is $1,818 a month. A typical chef in Maryland earns about $69,282 a year, which makes that rent 31.5% 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 Havre de Grace?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Maryland (~$69,282/yr) supports up to $1,732 a month in rent. Havre de Grace's current median rent is $1,818/mo, which is $86/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Havre de Grace?

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a chef in Maryland works roughly 54.6 hours a month to cover Havre de Grace's median rent of $1,818.

Where is rent cheaper than Havre de Grace for a chef?

Nearby Maryland cities with lower median rent include Middle River ($1,817/mo), Elkton ($1,816/mo), Towson ($1,815/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 Havre de Grace, MD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.