Can A Chef Afford Rent in Colchester, VT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44.2% of gross income.

Colchester rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Vermont state estimate).

Colchester median rent
$2,292/mo
Chef salary (Vermont)
$62,226/yr
Rent as % of income
44.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,186, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,556/mo in rent. Colchester's median rent of $2,292 exceeds that threshold by $736/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 76.6 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 Vermont cities have lower median rent than Colchester, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

South Burlington, VT
$2,289/mo (44.1% of income)
South Burlington, VT
$2,259/mo (43.6% of income)
Hartford, VT
$2,225/mo (42.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Colchester

View full rent data for Colchester, VT

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Colchester, VT?

Median rent in Colchester is $2,292 a month. A typical chef in Vermont earns about $62,226 a year, which makes that rent 44.2% 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 Colchester?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Vermont (~$62,226/yr) supports up to $1,556 a month in rent. Colchester's current median rent is $2,292/mo, which is $736/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a chef in Vermont works roughly 76.6 hours a month to cover Colchester's median rent of $2,292.

Where is rent cheaper than Colchester for a chef?

Nearby Vermont cities with lower median rent include South Burlington ($2,289/mo), South Burlington ($2,259/mo), Hartford ($2,225/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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