Can A Chef Afford Rent in Forest Hill, TX?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.7% of gross income.

Forest Hill rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Texas state estimate).

Forest Hill median rent
$1,781/mo
Chef salary (Texas)
$63,509/yr
Rent as % of income
33.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,292, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,588/mo in rent. Forest Hill's median rent of $1,781 exceeds that threshold by $193/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 58.3 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 Texas cities have lower median rent than Forest Hill, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Leander, TX
$1,780/mo (33.6% of income)
Leander, TX
$1,780/mo (33.6% of income)
Leander, TX
$1,780/mo (33.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Forest Hill

View full rent data for Forest Hill, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Forest Hill, TX?

Median rent in Forest Hill is $1,781 a month. A typical chef in Texas earns about $63,509 a year, which makes that rent 33.7% 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 Forest Hill?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Texas (~$63,509/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Forest Hill's current median rent is $1,781/mo, which is $193/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Texas works roughly 58.3 hours a month to cover Forest Hill's median rent of $1,781.

Where is rent cheaper than Forest Hill for a chef?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Leander ($1,780/mo), Leander ($1,780/mo), Leander ($1,780/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 Forest Hill, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.