Can A Chef Afford Rent in Portsmouth, RI?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 51.9% of gross income.
Portsmouth rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Portsmouth, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Portsmouth
View full rent data for Portsmouth, RI →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Portsmouth, RI?
Median rent in Portsmouth is $2,887 a month. A typical chef in Rhode Island earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 51.9% 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 Portsmouth?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Rhode Island (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Portsmouth's current median rent is $2,887/mo, which is $1,219/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Portsmouth?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Rhode Island works roughly 90 hours a month to cover Portsmouth's median rent of $2,887.
Where is rent cheaper than Portsmouth for a chef?
Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Middletown ($2,885/mo), Narragansett ($2,883/mo), Bristol ($2,880/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.