Can A Chef Afford Rent in Tobyhanna, PA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.5% of gross income.

Tobyhanna rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Pennsylvania state estimate).

Tobyhanna median rent
$2,088/mo
Chef salary (Pennsylvania)
$63,509/yr
Rent as % of income
39.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,292, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,588/mo in rent. Tobyhanna's median rent of $2,088 exceeds that threshold by $500/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 68.4 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 Tobyhanna, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

West Chester, PA
$2,085/mo (39.4% of income)
Wayne, PA
$2,084/mo (39.4% of income)
Wyomissing, PA
$2,081/mo (39.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tobyhanna

View full rent data for Tobyhanna, PA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Tobyhanna, PA?

Median rent in Tobyhanna is $2,088 a month. A typical chef in Pennsylvania earns about $63,509 a year, which makes that rent 39.5% 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 Tobyhanna?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Pennsylvania (~$63,509/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Tobyhanna's current median rent is $2,088/mo, which is $500/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Pennsylvania works roughly 68.4 hours a month to cover Tobyhanna's median rent of $2,088.

Where is rent cheaper than Tobyhanna for a chef?

Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include West Chester ($2,085/mo), Wayne ($2,084/mo), Wyomissing ($2,081/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 Tobyhanna, PA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.