Can A Chef Afford Rent in Port Royal, SC?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32% of gross income.

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

Port Royal median rent
$1,505/mo
Chef salary (South Carolina)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
32%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Port Royal's median rent of $1,505 exceeds that threshold by $94/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 55.5 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 Port Royal, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

North Augusta, SC
$1,503/mo (31.9% of income)
Cayce, SC
$1,502/mo (31.9% of income)
North Augusta, SC
$1,501/mo (31.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Port Royal

View full rent data for Port Royal, SC

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Port Royal, SC?

Median rent in Port Royal is $1,505 a month. A typical chef in South Carolina earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 32% 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 Port Royal?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in South Carolina (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Port Royal's current median rent is $1,505/mo, which is $94/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in South Carolina works roughly 55.5 hours a month to cover Port Royal's median rent of $1,505.

Where is rent cheaper than Port Royal for a chef?

Nearby South Carolina cities with lower median rent include North Augusta ($1,503/mo), Cayce ($1,502/mo), North Augusta ($1,501/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 Port Royal, SC. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.