Can A Chef Afford Rent in Leonia, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.6% of gross income.

Leonia rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Leonia median rent
$2,550/mo
Chef salary (New Jersey)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
42.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. Leonia's median rent of $2,550 exceeds that threshold by $754/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 73.8 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 Leonia, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

North Brunswick, NJ
$2,549/mo (42.6% of income)
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
$2,549/mo (42.6% of income)
Piscataway, NJ
$2,548/mo (42.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Leonia

View full rent data for Leonia, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Leonia, NJ?

Median rent in Leonia is $2,550 a month. A typical chef in New Jersey earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 42.6% 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 Leonia?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New Jersey (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Leonia's current median rent is $2,550/mo, which is $754/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in New Jersey works roughly 73.8 hours a month to cover Leonia's median rent of $2,550.

Where is rent cheaper than Leonia for a chef?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include North Brunswick ($2,549/mo), Hasbrouck Heights ($2,549/mo), Piscataway ($2,548/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 Leonia, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.