Can A Chef Afford Rent in Little Elm, TX?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.1% of gross income.

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

Little Elm median rent
$2,282/mo
Chef salary (Texas)
$63,509/yr
Rent as % of income
43.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,292, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,588/mo in rent. Little Elm's median rent of $2,282 exceeds that threshold by $694/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 74.7 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 Little Elm, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Liberty Hill, TX
$2,281/mo (43.1% of income)
Alamo Heights, TX
$2,280/mo (43.1% of income)
Haslet, TX
$2,279/mo (43.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Little Elm

View full rent data for Little Elm, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Little Elm, TX?

Median rent in Little Elm is $2,282 a month. A typical chef in Texas earns about $63,509 a year, which makes that rent 43.1% 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 Little Elm?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Texas (~$63,509/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Little Elm's current median rent is $2,282/mo, which is $694/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Texas works roughly 74.7 hours a month to cover Little Elm's median rent of $2,282.

Where is rent cheaper than Little Elm for a chef?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Liberty Hill ($2,281/mo), Alamo Heights ($2,280/mo), Haslet ($2,279/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 Little Elm, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.