Can A Chef Afford Rent in Cedar Falls, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.4% of gross income.
Cedar Falls rent: July 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 Cedar Falls, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Cedar Falls
View full rent data for Cedar Falls, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Cedar Falls, IA?
Median rent in Cedar Falls is $1,251 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 25.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Cedar Falls?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Cedar Falls's current median rent is $1,251/mo, which leaves a $224/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Cedar Falls?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 44.1 hours a month to cover Cedar Falls's median rent of $1,251.
Where is rent cheaper than Cedar Falls for a chef?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Bettendorf ($1,249/mo), Indianola ($1,248/mo), Pleasant Hill ($1,246/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.