Can A Chef Afford Rent in Bettendorf, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27% of gross income.

Bettendorf rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Bettendorf median rent
$1,327/mo
Chef salary (Iowa)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
27%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Bettendorf's median rent of $1,327 leaves roughly $148/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 46.8 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 Iowa cities have lower median rent than Bettendorf, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

West Des Moines, IA
$1,326/mo (27% of income)
West Des Moines, IA
$1,324/mo (26.9% of income)
Iowa City, IA
$1,323/mo (26.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bettendorf

View full rent data for Bettendorf, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Bettendorf, IA?

Median rent in Bettendorf is $1,327 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 27% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Bettendorf?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Bettendorf's current median rent is $1,327/mo, which leaves a $148/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 46.8 hours a month to cover Bettendorf's median rent of $1,327.

Where is rent cheaper than Bettendorf for a chef?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include West Des Moines ($1,326/mo), West Des Moines ($1,324/mo), Iowa City ($1,323/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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