Can A Chef Afford Rent in Grand Island, NY?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.3% of gross income.

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

Grand Island median rent
$2,089/mo
Chef salary (New York)
$73,131/yr
Rent as % of income
34.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,094, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,828/mo in rent. Grand Island's median rent of $2,089 exceeds that threshold by $261/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 59.4 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 Grand Island, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Middletown, NY
$2,087/mo (34.2% of income)
Middletown, NY
$2,084/mo (34.2% of income)
Middletown, NY
$2,080/mo (34.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grand Island

View full rent data for Grand Island, NY

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Grand Island, NY?

Median rent in Grand Island is $2,089 a month. A typical chef in New York earns about $73,131 a year, which makes that rent 34.3% 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 Grand Island?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New York (~$73,131/yr) supports up to $1,828 a month in rent. Grand Island's current median rent is $2,089/mo, which is $261/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in New York works roughly 59.4 hours a month to cover Grand Island's median rent of $2,089.

Where is rent cheaper than Grand Island for a chef?

Nearby New York cities with lower median rent include Middletown ($2,087/mo), Middletown ($2,084/mo), Middletown ($2,080/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 Grand Island, NY. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.