Can A Chef Afford Rent in Ambridge, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.5% of gross income.

Ambridge rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Ambridge median rent
$872/mo
Chef salary (Pennsylvania)
$63,509/yr
Rent as % of income
16.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,292, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,588/mo in rent. Ambridge's median rent of $872 leaves roughly $716/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 28.6 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Ambridge, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Meadville, PA
$871/mo (16.5% of income)
New Kensington, PA
$870/mo (16.4% of income)
Johnstown, PA
$868/mo (16.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ambridge

View full rent data for Ambridge, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Ambridge, PA?

Median rent in Ambridge is $872 a month. A typical chef in Pennsylvania earns about $63,509 a year, which makes that rent 16.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Ambridge?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Pennsylvania (~$63,509/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Ambridge's current median rent is $872/mo, which leaves a $716/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Pennsylvania works roughly 28.6 hours a month to cover Ambridge's median rent of $872.

Where is rent cheaper than Ambridge for a chef?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Meadville ($871/mo), New Kensington ($870/mo), Johnstown ($868/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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