Can A Chef Afford Rent in Oxford, MS?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.7% of gross income.

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

Oxford median rent
$2,108/mo
Chef salary (Mississippi)
$51,962/yr
Rent as % of income
48.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,330, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,299/mo in rent. Oxford's median rent of $2,108 exceeds that threshold by $809/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 84.4 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 Oxford, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Hernando, MS
$2,080/mo (48% of income)
Olive Branch, MS
$1,993/mo (46% of income)
Olive Branch, MS
$1,986/mo (45.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oxford

View full rent data for Oxford, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Oxford, MS?

Median rent in Oxford is $2,108 a month. A typical chef in Mississippi earns about $51,962 a year, which makes that rent 48.7% 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 Oxford?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Mississippi (~$51,962/yr) supports up to $1,299 a month in rent. Oxford's current median rent is $2,108/mo, which is $809/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a chef in Mississippi works roughly 84.4 hours a month to cover Oxford's median rent of $2,108.

Where is rent cheaper than Oxford for a chef?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Hernando ($2,080/mo), Olive Branch ($1,993/mo), Olive Branch ($1,986/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 Oxford, MS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.