Can A Chef Afford Rent in Lakewood, OH?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.2% of gross income.

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

Lakewood median rent
$1,466/mo
Chef salary (Ohio)
$60,301/yr
Rent as % of income
29.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,025, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Lakewood's median rent of $1,466 leaves roughly $42/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.6 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 Lakewood, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Gahanna, OH
$1,465/mo (29.2% of income)
Maple Heights, OH
$1,465/mo (29.2% of income)
Lewis Center, OH
$1,465/mo (29.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lakewood

View full rent data for Lakewood, OH

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Lakewood, OH?

Median rent in Lakewood is $1,466 a month. A typical chef in Ohio earns about $60,301 a year, which makes that rent 29.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Lakewood?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Ohio (~$60,301/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Lakewood's current median rent is $1,466/mo, which leaves a $42/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Ohio works roughly 50.6 hours a month to cover Lakewood's median rent of $1,466.

Where is rent cheaper than Lakewood for a chef?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include Gahanna ($1,465/mo), Maple Heights ($1,465/mo), Lewis Center ($1,465/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 Lakewood, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.