Can A Chef Afford Rent in Erie, PA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.6% of gross income.
Erie rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).
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 Erie, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Erie
View full rent data for Erie, PA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Erie, PA?
Median rent in Erie is $1,089 a month. A typical chef in Pennsylvania earns about $63,509 a year, which makes that rent 20.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Erie?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Pennsylvania (~$63,509/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Erie's current median rent is $1,089/mo, which leaves a $499/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Erie?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Pennsylvania works roughly 35.7 hours a month to cover Erie's median rent of $1,089.
Where is rent cheaper than Erie for a chef?
Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Pittston ($1,088/mo), New Castle ($1,086/mo), Shippensburg ($1,085/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.