Can A Chef Afford Rent in Newport, RI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.8% of gross income.

Newport rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Newport median rent
$3,156/mo
Chef salary (Rhode Island)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
56.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Newport's median rent of $3,156 exceeds that threshold by $1,488/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 98.4 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Newport, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Portsmouth, RI
$3,149/mo (56.6% of income)
Middletown, RI
$3,140/mo (56.5% of income)
Narragansett, RI
$3,125/mo (56.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Newport

View full rent data for Newport, RI

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Newport, RI?

Median rent in Newport is $3,156 a month. A typical chef in Rhode Island earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 56.8% 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 Newport?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Rhode Island (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Newport's current median rent is $3,156/mo, which is $1,488/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Rhode Island works roughly 98.4 hours a month to cover Newport's median rent of $3,156.

Where is rent cheaper than Newport for a chef?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Portsmouth ($3,149/mo), Middletown ($3,140/mo), Narragansett ($3,125/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Rhode Island state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Newport, RI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.