Can A Chef Afford Rent in Pawleys Island, SC?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43% of gross income.

Pawleys Island rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Carolina state estimate).

Pawleys Island median rent
$2,025/mo
Chef salary (South Carolina)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
43%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Pawleys Island's median rent of $2,025 exceeds that threshold by $614/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 74.6 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 South Carolina cities have lower median rent than Pawleys Island, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Fountain Inn, SC
$2,019/mo (42.9% of income)
Fountain Inn, SC
$2,018/mo (42.9% of income)
Graniteville, SC
$2,018/mo (42.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pawleys Island

View full rent data for Pawleys Island, SC

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Pawleys Island, SC?

Median rent in Pawleys Island is $2,025 a month. A typical chef in South Carolina earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 43% 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 Pawleys Island?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in South Carolina (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Pawleys Island's current median rent is $2,025/mo, which is $614/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in South Carolina works roughly 74.6 hours a month to cover Pawleys Island's median rent of $2,025.

Where is rent cheaper than Pawleys Island for a chef?

Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include Fountain Inn ($2,019/mo), Fountain Inn ($2,018/mo), Graniteville ($2,018/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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