Can A Chef Afford Rent in Freeport, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.9% of gross income.

Freeport rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine state estimate).

Freeport median rent
$2,532/mo
Chef salary (Maine)
$59,660/yr
Rent as % of income
50.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,972, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Freeport's median rent of $2,532 exceeds that threshold by $1,040/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 88.3 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Freeport, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Yarmouth, ME
$2,518/mo (50.6% of income)
South Portland, ME
$2,512/mo (50.5% of income)
Kittery, ME
$2,472/mo (49.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Freeport

View full rent data for Freeport, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Freeport, ME?

Median rent in Freeport is $2,532 a month. A typical chef in Maine earns about $59,660 a year, which makes that rent 50.9% 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 Freeport?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Maine (~$59,660/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Freeport's current median rent is $2,532/mo, which is $1,040/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Maine works roughly 88.3 hours a month to cover Freeport's median rent of $2,532.

Where is rent cheaper than Freeport for a chef?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Yarmouth ($2,518/mo), South Portland ($2,512/mo), Kittery ($2,472/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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