Can A Chef Afford Rent in Cedar Knolls, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 57.6% of gross income.

Cedar Knolls rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Cedar Knolls median rent
$3,449/mo
Chef salary (New Jersey)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
57.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. Cedar Knolls's median rent of $3,449 exceeds that threshold by $1,653/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 99.8 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Cedar Knolls, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Berkeley Heights, NJ
$3,448/mo (57.6% of income)
Seaside Heights, NJ
$3,447/mo (57.6% of income)
Jackson, NJ
$3,445/mo (57.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cedar Knolls

View full rent data for Cedar Knolls, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Cedar Knolls, NJ?

Median rent in Cedar Knolls is $3,449 a month. A typical chef in New Jersey earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 57.6% 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 Cedar Knolls?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New Jersey (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Cedar Knolls's current median rent is $3,449/mo, which is $1,653/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in New Jersey works roughly 99.8 hours a month to cover Cedar Knolls's median rent of $3,449.

Where is rent cheaper than Cedar Knolls for a chef?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Berkeley Heights ($3,448/mo), Seaside Heights ($3,447/mo), Jackson ($3,445/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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