Can A Chef Afford Rent in Madison, MS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.9% of gross income.

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

Madison median rent
$2,422/mo
Chef salary (Mississippi)
$51,962/yr
Rent as % of income
55.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,330, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,299/mo in rent. Madison's median rent of $2,422 exceeds that threshold by $1,123/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 97 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 Madison, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Oxford, MS
$2,376/mo (54.9% of income)
Oxford, MS
$2,304/mo (53.2% of income)
Hernando, MS
$2,261/mo (52.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Madison

View full rent data for Madison, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Madison, MS?

Median rent in Madison is $2,422 a month. A typical chef in Mississippi earns about $51,962 a year, which makes that rent 55.9% 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 Madison?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Mississippi (~$51,962/yr) supports up to $1,299 a month in rent. Madison's current median rent is $2,422/mo, which is $1,123/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a chef in Mississippi works roughly 97 hours a month to cover Madison's median rent of $2,422.

Where is rent cheaper than Madison for a chef?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Oxford ($2,376/mo), Oxford ($2,304/mo), Hernando ($2,261/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 Madison, MS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.