Can A Chef Afford Rent in Upper Arlington, OH?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.1% of gross income.

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

Upper Arlington median rent
$1,965/mo
Chef salary (Ohio)
$60,301/yr
Rent as % of income
39.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,025, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Upper Arlington's median rent of $1,965 exceeds that threshold by $457/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 67.8 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 Upper Arlington, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

New Albany, OH
$1,958/mo (39% of income)
Lebanon, OH
$1,958/mo (39% of income)
Pickerington, OH
$1,952/mo (38.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Upper Arlington

View full rent data for Upper Arlington, OH →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Upper Arlington, OH?

Median rent in Upper Arlington is $1,965 a month. A typical chef in Ohio earns about $60,301 a year, which makes that rent 39.1% 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 Upper Arlington?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Ohio (~$60,301/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Upper Arlington's current median rent is $1,965/mo, which is $457/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Ohio works roughly 67.8 hours a month to cover Upper Arlington's median rent of $1,965.

Where is rent cheaper than Upper Arlington for a chef?

Nearby Ohio cities with lower median rent include New Albany ($1,958/mo), Lebanon ($1,958/mo), Pickerington ($1,952/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 Upper Arlington, OH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.