Can A Chef Afford Rent in Burlington, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20% of gross income.
Burlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).
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 Burlington, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Burlington
View full rent data for Burlington, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Burlington, IA?
Median rent in Burlington is $983 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 20% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Burlington?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Burlington's current median rent is $983/mo, which leaves a $492/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Burlington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 34.6 hours a month to cover Burlington's median rent of $983.
Where is rent cheaper than Burlington for a chef?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Newton ($982/mo), Marion ($980/mo), Davenport ($973/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.