Can A Chef Afford Rent in Decatur, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.6% of gross income.

Decatur rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Decatur median rent
$1,195/mo
Chef salary (Texas)
$63,509/yr
Rent as % of income
22.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,292, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,588/mo in rent. Decatur's median rent of $1,195 leaves roughly $393/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 39.1 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Decatur, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Copperas Cove, TX
$1,194/mo (22.6% of income)
Athens, TX
$1,194/mo (22.6% of income)
Victoria, TX
$1,193/mo (22.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Decatur

View full rent data for Decatur, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Decatur, TX?

Median rent in Decatur is $1,195 a month. A typical chef in Texas earns about $63,509 a year, which makes that rent 22.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Decatur?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Texas (~$63,509/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Decatur's current median rent is $1,195/mo, which leaves a $393/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Texas works roughly 39.1 hours a month to cover Decatur's median rent of $1,195.

Where is rent cheaper than Decatur for a chef?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Copperas Cove ($1,194/mo), Athens ($1,194/mo), Victoria ($1,193/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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