Can A Chef Afford Rent in Middletown, PA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25% of gross income.

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

Middletown median rent
$1,322/mo
Chef salary (Pennsylvania)
$63,509/yr
Rent as % of income
25%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,292, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,588/mo in rent. Middletown's median rent of $1,322 leaves roughly $266/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 43.3 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 Middletown, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Aliquippa, PA
$1,321/mo (25% of income)
Lebanon, PA
$1,321/mo (25% of income)
Collingdale, PA
$1,321/mo (25% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Middletown

View full rent data for Middletown, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Middletown, PA?

Median rent in Middletown is $1,322 a month. A typical chef in Pennsylvania earns about $63,509 a year, which makes that rent 25% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Middletown?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Pennsylvania (~$63,509/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Middletown's current median rent is $1,322/mo, which leaves a $266/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Pennsylvania works roughly 43.3 hours a month to cover Middletown's median rent of $1,322.

Where is rent cheaper than Middletown for a chef?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Aliquippa ($1,321/mo), Lebanon ($1,321/mo), Collingdale ($1,321/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 Middletown, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.