Can A Chef Afford Rent in Wasilla, AK?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.8% of gross income.

Wasilla rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Alaska state estimate).

Wasilla median rent
$2,023/mo
Chef salary (Alaska)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
33.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. Wasilla's median rent of $2,023 exceeds that threshold by $227/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 58.6 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 Alaska cities have lower median rent than Wasilla, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

North Pole, AK
$1,994/mo (33.3% of income)
North Pole, AK
$1,969/mo (32.9% of income)
North Pole, AK
$1,961/mo (32.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wasilla

View full rent data for Wasilla, AK

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Wasilla, AK?

Median rent in Wasilla is $2,023 a month. A typical chef in Alaska earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 33.8% 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 Wasilla?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Alaska (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Wasilla's current median rent is $2,023/mo, which is $227/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in Alaska works roughly 58.6 hours a month to cover Wasilla's median rent of $2,023.

Where is rent cheaper than Wasilla for a chef?

Nearby Alaska cities with lower median rent include North Pole ($1,994/mo), North Pole ($1,969/mo), North Pole ($1,961/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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