Can A Chef Afford Rent in Clinton, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.1% of gross income.

Clinton rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Clinton median rent
$792/mo
Chef salary (Iowa)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
16.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Clinton's median rent of $792 leaves roughly $683/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 27.9 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 Clinton, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Newton, IA
$788/mo (16% of income)
Boone, IA
$786/mo (16% of income)
Boone, IA
$771/mo (15.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clinton

View full rent data for Clinton, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Clinton, IA?

Median rent in Clinton is $792 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 16.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Clinton?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Clinton's current median rent is $792/mo, which leaves a $683/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 27.9 hours a month to cover Clinton's median rent of $792.

Where is rent cheaper than Clinton for a chef?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Newton ($788/mo), Boone ($786/mo), Boone ($771/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 Clinton, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.