Can A Chef Afford Rent in Fort Dodge, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.7% of gross income.
Fort Dodge rent: July 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 Fort Dodge, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fort Dodge
View full rent data for Fort Dodge, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Fort Dodge, IA?
Median rent in Fort Dodge is $820 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 16.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Fort Dodge?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Fort Dodge's current median rent is $820/mo, which leaves a $655/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Fort Dodge?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 28.9 hours a month to cover Fort Dodge's median rent of $820.
Where is rent cheaper than Fort Dodge for a chef?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Boone ($806/mo), Burlington ($806/mo), Boone ($804/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.