Can A Chef Afford Rent in Ridgeland, MS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.5% of gross income.

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

Ridgeland median rent
$1,451/mo
Chef salary (Mississippi)
$51,962/yr
Rent as % of income
33.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,330, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,299/mo in rent. Ridgeland's median rent of $1,451 exceeds that threshold by $152/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 58.1 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 Ridgeland, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Pearl, MS
$1,448/mo (33.4% of income)
Gulf Hills, MS
$1,447/mo (33.4% of income)
Olive Branch, MS
$1,443/mo (33.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ridgeland

View full rent data for Ridgeland, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Ridgeland, MS?

Median rent in Ridgeland is $1,451 a month. A typical chef in Mississippi earns about $51,962 a year, which makes that rent 33.5% 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 Ridgeland?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Mississippi (~$51,962/yr) supports up to $1,299 a month in rent. Ridgeland's current median rent is $1,451/mo, which is $152/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a chef in Mississippi works roughly 58.1 hours a month to cover Ridgeland's median rent of $1,451.

Where is rent cheaper than Ridgeland for a chef?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Pearl ($1,448/mo), Gulf Hills ($1,447/mo), Olive Branch ($1,443/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 Ridgeland, MS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.