Can A Chef Afford Rent in Portsmouth, RI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.8% of gross income.

Portsmouth rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Portsmouth median rent
$3,378/mo
Chef salary (Rhode Island)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
60.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Portsmouth's median rent of $3,378 exceeds that threshold by $1,710/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 105.3 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 Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Portsmouth, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Newport, RI
$3,284/mo (59.1% of income)
Newport, RI
$3,281/mo (59% of income)
Middletown, RI
$3,229/mo (58.1% of income)

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 $3,378 a month. A typical chef in Rhode Island earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 60.8% 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 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 $3,378/mo, which is $1,710/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 105.3 hours a month to cover Portsmouth's median rent of $3,378.

Where is rent cheaper than Portsmouth for a chef?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Newport ($3,284/mo), Newport ($3,281/mo), Middletown ($3,229/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 Portsmouth, RI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.