Can A Chef Afford Rent in Davenport, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.6% of gross income.

Davenport rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Davenport median rent
$965/mo
Chef salary (Iowa)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
19.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Davenport's median rent of $965 leaves roughly $510/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 34 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 Davenport, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Burlington, IA
$962/mo (19.6% of income)
Burlington, IA
$961/mo (19.5% of income)
Des Moines, IA
$959/mo (19.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Davenport

View full rent data for Davenport, IA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Davenport, IA?

Median rent in Davenport is $965 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 19.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Davenport?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Davenport's current median rent is $965/mo, which leaves a $510/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 34 hours a month to cover Davenport's median rent of $965.

Where is rent cheaper than Davenport for a chef?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Burlington ($962/mo), Burlington ($961/mo), Des Moines ($959/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 Davenport, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.