Can A Chef Afford Rent in Upper Darby, PA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.2% of gross income.
Upper Darby 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 Upper Darby, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Upper Darby
View full rent data for Upper Darby, PA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Upper Darby, PA?
Median rent in Upper Darby is $1,281 a month. A typical chef in Pennsylvania earns about $63,509 a year, which makes that rent 24.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Upper Darby?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Pennsylvania (~$63,509/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Upper Darby's current median rent is $1,281/mo, which leaves a $307/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Upper Darby?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Pennsylvania works roughly 42 hours a month to cover Upper Darby's median rent of $1,281.
Where is rent cheaper than Upper Darby for a chef?
Nearby Pennsylvania cities with lower median rent include Carnegie ($1,280/mo), York ($1,280/mo), Pittston ($1,280/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.