Can A Chef Afford Rent in Odessa, TX?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29% of gross income.

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

Odessa median rent
$1,537/mo
Chef salary (Texas)
$63,509/yr
Rent as % of income
29%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,292, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,588/mo in rent. Odessa's median rent of $1,537 leaves roughly $51/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.3 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 Odessa, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Denton, TX
$1,536/mo (29% of income)
Brownsville, TX
$1,536/mo (29% of income)
Carrollton, TX
$1,536/mo (29% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Odessa

View full rent data for Odessa, TX

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Odessa, TX?

Median rent in Odessa is $1,537 a month. A typical chef in Texas earns about $63,509 a year, which makes that rent 29% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Odessa?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Texas (~$63,509/yr) supports up to $1,588 a month in rent. Odessa's current median rent is $1,537/mo, which leaves a $51/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Texas works roughly 50.3 hours a month to cover Odessa's median rent of $1,537.

Where is rent cheaper than Odessa for a chef?

Nearby Texas cities with lower median rent include Denton ($1,536/mo), Brownsville ($1,536/mo), Carrollton ($1,536/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 Odessa, TX. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.