Can A Chef Afford Rent in Grimes, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.2% of gross income.

Grimes rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Grimes median rent
$1,435/mo
Chef salary (Iowa)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
29.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Grimes's median rent of $1,435 leaves roughly $40/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.6 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 Grimes, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Johnston, IA
$1,432/mo (29.1% of income)
Johnston, IA
$1,430/mo (29.1% of income)
North Liberty, IA
$1,430/mo (29.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grimes

View full rent data for Grimes, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Grimes, IA?

Median rent in Grimes is $1,435 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 29.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Grimes?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Grimes's current median rent is $1,435/mo, which leaves a $40/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 50.6 hours a month to cover Grimes's median rent of $1,435.

Where is rent cheaper than Grimes for a chef?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Johnston ($1,432/mo), Johnston ($1,430/mo), North Liberty ($1,430/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 Grimes, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.