Can A Chef Afford Rent in Meadville, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.6% of gross income.

Meadville rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Meadville median rent
$879/mo
Chef salary (Pennsylvania)
$63,509/yr
Rent as % of income
16.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,292, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,588/mo in rent. Meadville's median rent of $879 leaves roughly $709/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 28.8 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 Pennsylvania cities have lower median rent than Meadville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Johnstown, PA
$875/mo (16.5% of income)
Washington, PA
$874/mo (16.5% of income)
Sharon, PA
$873/mo (16.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Meadville

View full rent data for Meadville, PA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Meadville, PA?

Median rent in Meadville is $879 a month. A typical chef in Pennsylvania earns about $63,509 a year, which makes that rent 16.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Meadville?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Pennsylvania (~$63,509/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Meadville's current median rent is $879/mo, which leaves a $709/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Pennsylvania works roughly 28.8 hours a month to cover Meadville's median rent of $879.

Where is rent cheaper than Meadville for a chef?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Johnstown ($875/mo), Washington ($874/mo), Sharon ($873/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 Meadville, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.