Can A Chef Afford Rent in Ballston Spa, NY?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33% of gross income.

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

Ballston Spa median rent
$2,010/mo
Chef salary (New York)
$73,131/yr
Rent as % of income
33%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,094, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,828/mo in rent. Ballston Spa's median rent of $2,010 exceeds that threshold by $182/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 57.2 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 Ballston Spa, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Ithaca, NY
$2,008/mo (32.9% of income)
Ithaca, NY
$2,007/mo (32.9% of income)
Saratoga Springs, NY
$2,006/mo (32.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ballston Spa

View full rent data for Ballston Spa, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Ballston Spa, NY?

Median rent in Ballston Spa is $2,010 a month. A typical chef in New York earns about $73,131 a year, which makes that rent 33% 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 Ballston Spa?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New York (~$73,131/yr) supports up to $1,828 a month in rent. Ballston Spa's current median rent is $2,010/mo, which is $182/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in New York works roughly 57.2 hours a month to cover Ballston Spa's median rent of $2,010.

Where is rent cheaper than Ballston Spa for a chef?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Ithaca ($2,008/mo), Ithaca ($2,007/mo), Saratoga Springs ($2,006/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 Ballston Spa, NY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.