Can A Chef Afford Rent in Kittery, ME?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.5% of gross income.

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

Kittery median rent
$2,459/mo
Chef salary (Maine)
$59,660/yr
Rent as % of income
49.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,972, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Kittery's median rent of $2,459 exceeds that threshold by $967/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 85.7 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 Kittery, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Freeport, ME
$2,455/mo (49.4% of income)
Yarmouth, ME
$2,455/mo (49.4% of income)
Freeport, ME
$2,448/mo (49.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kittery

View full rent data for Kittery, ME

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Kittery, ME?

Median rent in Kittery is $2,459 a month. A typical chef in Maine earns about $59,660 a year, which makes that rent 49.5% 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 Kittery?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Maine (~$59,660/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Kittery's current median rent is $2,459/mo, which is $967/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Maine works roughly 85.7 hours a month to cover Kittery's median rent of $2,459.

Where is rent cheaper than Kittery for a chef?

Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Freeport ($2,455/mo), Yarmouth ($2,455/mo), Freeport ($2,448/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 Kittery, ME. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.