Can A Chef Afford Rent in Brookhaven, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.1% of gross income.

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

Brookhaven median rent
$1,806/mo
Chef salary (Pennsylvania)
$63,509/yr
Rent as % of income
34.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,292, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,588/mo in rent. Brookhaven's median rent of $1,806 exceeds that threshold by $218/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 59.1 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 Brookhaven, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Marcus Hook, PA
$1,803/mo (34.1% of income)
Coatesville, PA
$1,800/mo (34% of income)
Bethlehem, PA
$1,800/mo (34% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brookhaven

View full rent data for Brookhaven, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Brookhaven, PA?

Median rent in Brookhaven is $1,806 a month. A typical chef in Pennsylvania earns about $63,509 a year, which makes that rent 34.1% 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 Brookhaven?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Pennsylvania (~$63,509/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Brookhaven's current median rent is $1,806/mo, which is $218/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Pennsylvania works roughly 59.1 hours a month to cover Brookhaven's median rent of $1,806.

Where is rent cheaper than Brookhaven for a chef?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Marcus Hook ($1,803/mo), Coatesville ($1,800/mo), Bethlehem ($1,800/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 Brookhaven, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.