Can A Chef Afford Rent in Athens, OH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.3% of gross income.

Athens rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Athens median rent
$1,069/mo
Chef salary (Ohio)
$60,301/yr
Rent as % of income
21.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,025, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Athens's median rent of $1,069 leaves roughly $439/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 36.9 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 Ohio cities have lower median rent than Athens, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Lorain, OH
$1,068/mo (21.3% of income)
Lima, OH
$1,066/mo (21.2% of income)
Reading, OH
$1,064/mo (21.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Athens

View full rent data for Athens, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Athens, OH?

Median rent in Athens is $1,069 a month. A typical chef in Ohio earns about $60,301 a year, which makes that rent 21.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Athens?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Ohio (~$60,301/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Athens's current median rent is $1,069/mo, which leaves a $439/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Ohio works roughly 36.9 hours a month to cover Athens's median rent of $1,069.

Where is rent cheaper than Athens for a chef?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Lorain ($1,068/mo), Lima ($1,066/mo), Reading ($1,064/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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