Can A Chef Afford Rent in Dubuque, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.8% of gross income.
Dubuque rent: September 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 Dubuque, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Dubuque
View full rent data for Dubuque, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Dubuque, IA?
Median rent in Dubuque is $1,073 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 21.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Dubuque?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Dubuque's current median rent is $1,073/mo, which leaves a $402/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Dubuque?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 37.8 hours a month to cover Dubuque's median rent of $1,073.
Where is rent cheaper than Dubuque for a chef?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Marshalltown ($1,068/mo), Cedar Rapids ($1,062/mo), Cedar Rapids ($1,061/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.