Can A Chef Afford Rent in Auburn, NY?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.4% of gross income.

Auburn rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New York state estimate).

Auburn median rent
$1,425/mo
Chef salary (New York)
$73,131/yr
Rent as % of income
23.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,094, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,828/mo in rent. Auburn's median rent of $1,425 leaves roughly $403/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 40.5 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 York cities have lower median rent than Auburn, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Troy, NY
$1,424/mo (23.4% of income)
Oswego, NY
$1,423/mo (23.3% of income)
Henrietta, NY
$1,421/mo (23.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Auburn

View full rent data for Auburn, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Auburn, NY?

Median rent in Auburn is $1,425 a month. A typical chef in New York earns about $73,131 a year, which makes that rent 23.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Auburn?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New York (~$73,131/yr) supports up to $1,828 a month in rent. Auburn's current median rent is $1,425/mo, which leaves a $403/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in New York works roughly 40.5 hours a month to cover Auburn's median rent of $1,425.

Where is rent cheaper than Auburn for a chef?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Troy ($1,424/mo), Oswego ($1,423/mo), Henrietta ($1,421/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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