Can A Chef Afford Rent in Meridian, MS?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.8% of gross income.
Meridian rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi 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 Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Meridian, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Meridian
View full rent data for Meridian, MS →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Meridian, MS?
Median rent in Meridian is $1,290 a month. A typical chef in Mississippi earns about $51,962 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 Meridian?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Mississippi (~$51,962/yr) supports up to $1,299 a month in rent. Meridian's current median rent is $1,290/mo, which leaves a $9/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Meridian?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a chef in Mississippi works roughly 51.6 hours a month to cover Meridian's median rent of $1,290.
Where is rent cheaper than Meridian for a chef?
Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Moss Point ($1,288/mo), Biloxi ($1,287/mo), Columbus ($1,287/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.