Can A Chef Afford Rent in Jacksonville, NC?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.8% of gross income.
Jacksonville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).
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 Jacksonville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Jacksonville
View full rent data for Jacksonville, NC →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Jacksonville, NC?
Median rent in Jacksonville is $1,395 a month. A typical chef in North Carolina earns about $60,301 a year, which makes that rent 27.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Jacksonville?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in North Carolina (~$60,301/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Jacksonville's current median rent is $1,395/mo, which leaves a $113/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Jacksonville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in North Carolina works roughly 48.1 hours a month to cover Jacksonville's median rent of $1,395.
Where is rent cheaper than Jacksonville for a chef?
Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Havelock ($1,394/mo), Goldsboro ($1,393/mo), Goldsboro ($1,393/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.