Can A Chef Afford Rent in Boone, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.3% of gross income.

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

Boone median rent
$947/mo
Chef salary (Iowa)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
19.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Boone's median rent of $947 leaves roughly $528/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 33.4 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 Boone, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Urbandale, IA
$944/mo (19.2% of income)
Marshalltown, IA
$941/mo (19.1% of income)
Davenport, IA
$941/mo (19.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Boone

View full rent data for Boone, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Boone, IA?

Median rent in Boone is $947 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 19.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Boone?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Boone's current median rent is $947/mo, which leaves a $528/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 33.4 hours a month to cover Boone's median rent of $947.

Where is rent cheaper than Boone for a chef?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Urbandale ($944/mo), Marshalltown ($941/mo), Davenport ($941/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 Boone, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.