Can A Chef Afford Rent in Fayetteville, NC?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.1% of gross income.

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

Fayetteville median rent
$1,362/mo
Chef salary (North Carolina)
$60,301/yr
Rent as % of income
27.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,025, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Fayetteville's median rent of $1,362 leaves roughly $146/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 47 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 Fayetteville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Midway Park, NC
$1,361/mo (27.1% of income)
Jacksonville, NC
$1,361/mo (27.1% of income)
Midway Park, NC
$1,361/mo (27.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fayetteville

View full rent data for Fayetteville, NC →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Fayetteville, NC?

Median rent in Fayetteville is $1,362 a month. A typical chef in North Carolina earns about $60,301 a year, which makes that rent 27.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Fayetteville?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in North Carolina (~$60,301/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Fayetteville's current median rent is $1,362/mo, which leaves a $146/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in North Carolina works roughly 47 hours a month to cover Fayetteville's median rent of $1,362.

Where is rent cheaper than Fayetteville for a chef?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Midway Park ($1,361/mo), Jacksonville ($1,361/mo), Midway Park ($1,361/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 Fayetteville, NC. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.