Can A Chef Afford Rent in Cleveland, OH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27% of gross income.

Cleveland rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Ohio state estimate).

Cleveland median rent
$1,359/mo
Chef salary (Ohio)
$60,301/yr
Rent as % of income
27%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,025, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Cleveland's median rent of $1,359 leaves roughly $149/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 46.9 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 Cleveland, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Mayfield Heights, OH
$1,358/mo (27% of income)
Troy, OH
$1,357/mo (27% of income)
Xenia, OH
$1,357/mo (27% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cleveland

View full rent data for Cleveland, OH →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Cleveland, OH?

Median rent in Cleveland is $1,359 a month. A typical chef in Ohio earns about $60,301 a year, which makes that rent 27% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Cleveland?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Ohio (~$60,301/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Cleveland's current median rent is $1,359/mo, which leaves a $149/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Ohio works roughly 46.9 hours a month to cover Cleveland's median rent of $1,359.

Where is rent cheaper than Cleveland for a chef?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Mayfield Heights ($1,358/mo), Troy ($1,357/mo), Xenia ($1,357/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 Cleveland, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.