Can A Chef Afford Rent in Lewiston, ME?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.8% of gross income.
Lewiston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Maine 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 Maine cities have lower median rent than Lewiston, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Lewiston
View full rent data for Lewiston, ME →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Lewiston, ME?
Median rent in Lewiston is $1,480 a month. A typical chef in Maine earns about $59,660 a year, which makes that rent 29.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Lewiston?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Maine (~$59,660/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Lewiston's current median rent is $1,480/mo, which leaves a $12/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Lewiston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Maine works roughly 51.6 hours a month to cover Lewiston's median rent of $1,480.
Where is rent cheaper than Lewiston for a chef?
Nearby Maine cities with lower median rent include Bangor ($1,477/mo), Bangor ($1,460/mo), Augusta ($1,458/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.