Can A Chef Afford Rent in Des Moines, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.8% of gross income.
Des Moines 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 Des Moines, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Des Moines
View full rent data for Des Moines, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Des Moines, IA?
Median rent in Des Moines is $1,121 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 22.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Des Moines?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Des Moines's current median rent is $1,121/mo, which leaves a $354/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Des Moines?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 39.5 hours a month to cover Des Moines's median rent of $1,121.
Where is rent cheaper than Des Moines for a chef?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Cedar Rapids ($1,119/mo), Sioux City ($1,117/mo), Marion ($1,116/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.