Can A Chef Afford Rent in Jackson, MS?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.3% of gross income.

Jackson rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).

Jackson median rent
$1,270/mo
Chef salary (Mississippi)
$51,962/yr
Rent as % of income
29.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,330, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,299/mo in rent. Jackson's median rent of $1,270 leaves roughly $29/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.8 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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Jackson, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Tupelo, MS
$1,264/mo (29.2% of income)
Tupelo, MS
$1,251/mo (28.9% of income)
Moss Point, MS
$1,250/mo (28.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jackson

View full rent data for Jackson, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Jackson, MS?

Median rent in Jackson is $1,270 a month. A typical chef in Mississippi earns about $51,962 a year, which makes that rent 29.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Jackson?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Mississippi (~$51,962/yr) supports up to $1,299 a month in rent. Jackson's current median rent is $1,270/mo, which leaves a $29/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a chef in Mississippi works roughly 50.8 hours a month to cover Jackson's median rent of $1,270.

Where is rent cheaper than Jackson for a chef?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Tupelo ($1,264/mo), Tupelo ($1,251/mo), Moss Point ($1,250/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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