Can A Chef Afford Rent in Council Bluffs, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.4% of gross income.
Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Council Bluffs
View full rent data for Council Bluffs, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Council Bluffs, IA?
Median rent in Council Bluffs is $1,348 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 27.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Council Bluffs?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Council Bluffs's current median rent is $1,348/mo, which leaves a $127/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Council Bluffs?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 47.5 hours a month to cover Council Bluffs's median rent of $1,348.
Where is rent cheaper than Council Bluffs for a chef?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Falls ($1,347/mo), West Des Moines ($1,346/mo), Pleasant Hill ($1,346/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.