Can A Chef Afford Rent in Beaufort, NC?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.8% of gross income.

Beaufort rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Beaufort median rent
$1,800/mo
Chef salary (North Carolina)
$60,301/yr
Rent as % of income
35.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,025, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Beaufort's median rent of $1,800 exceeds that threshold by $292/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 62.1 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 North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Beaufort, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Pittsboro, NC
$1,799/mo (35.8% of income)
Monroe, NC
$1,799/mo (35.8% of income)
Midland, NC
$1,799/mo (35.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Beaufort

View full rent data for Beaufort, NC →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Beaufort, NC?

Median rent in Beaufort is $1,800 a month. A typical chef in North Carolina earns about $60,301 a year, which makes that rent 35.8% 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 Beaufort?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in North Carolina (~$60,301/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Beaufort's current median rent is $1,800/mo, which is $292/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in North Carolina works roughly 62.1 hours a month to cover Beaufort's median rent of $1,800.

Where is rent cheaper than Beaufort for a chef?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Pittsboro ($1,799/mo), Monroe ($1,799/mo), Midland ($1,799/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived North Carolina state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Beaufort, NC. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.