Can A Chef Afford Rent in Monmouth Beach, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.8% of gross income.

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

Monmouth Beach median rent
$3,042/mo
Chef salary (New Jersey)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
50.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. Monmouth Beach's median rent of $3,042 exceeds that threshold by $1,246/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 88.1 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 New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Monmouth Beach, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Fort Lee, NJ
$3,034/mo (50.7% of income)
Jersey City, NJ
$3,033/mo (50.7% of income)
Ocean, NJ
$3,028/mo (50.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Monmouth Beach

View full rent data for Monmouth Beach, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Monmouth Beach, NJ?

Median rent in Monmouth Beach is $3,042 a month. A typical chef in New Jersey earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 50.8% 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 Monmouth Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New Jersey (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Monmouth Beach's current median rent is $3,042/mo, which is $1,246/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in New Jersey works roughly 88.1 hours a month to cover Monmouth Beach's median rent of $3,042.

Where is rent cheaper than Monmouth Beach for a chef?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Fort Lee ($3,034/mo), Jersey City ($3,033/mo), Ocean ($3,028/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 Monmouth Beach, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.