Can A Chef Afford Rent in Southaven, MS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.6% of gross income.

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

Southaven median rent
$1,540/mo
Chef salary (Mississippi)
$51,962/yr
Rent as % of income
35.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,330, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,299/mo in rent. Southaven's median rent of $1,540 exceeds that threshold by $241/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 61.6 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 Southaven, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Diberville, MS
$1,538/mo (35.5% of income)
Horn Lake, MS
$1,533/mo (35.4% of income)
Horn Lake, MS
$1,533/mo (35.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Southaven

View full rent data for Southaven, MS

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Southaven, MS?

Median rent in Southaven is $1,540 a month. A typical chef in Mississippi earns about $51,962 a year, which makes that rent 35.6% 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 Southaven?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Mississippi (~$51,962/yr) supports up to $1,299 a month in rent. Southaven's current median rent is $1,540/mo, which is $241/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a chef in Mississippi works roughly 61.6 hours a month to cover Southaven's median rent of $1,540.

Where is rent cheaper than Southaven for a chef?

Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Diberville ($1,538/mo), Horn Lake ($1,533/mo), Horn Lake ($1,533/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 Southaven, MS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.