Can A Chef Afford Rent in Ardmore, PA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47% of gross income.

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

Ardmore median rent
$2,485/mo
Chef salary (Pennsylvania)
$63,509/yr
Rent as % of income
47%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,292, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,588/mo in rent. Ardmore's median rent of $2,485 exceeds that threshold by $897/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 81.4 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 Ardmore, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Bridgeport, PA
$2,477/mo (46.8% of income)
Bryn Mawr, PA
$2,476/mo (46.8% of income)
Paoli, PA
$2,472/mo (46.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ardmore

View full rent data for Ardmore, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Ardmore, PA?

Median rent in Ardmore is $2,485 a month. A typical chef in Pennsylvania earns about $63,509 a year, which makes that rent 47% 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 Ardmore?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Pennsylvania (~$63,509/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Ardmore's current median rent is $2,485/mo, which is $897/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Pennsylvania works roughly 81.4 hours a month to cover Ardmore's median rent of $2,485.

Where is rent cheaper than Ardmore for a chef?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Bridgeport ($2,477/mo), Bryn Mawr ($2,476/mo), Paoli ($2,472/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 Ardmore, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.