Can A Chef Afford Rent in Indianola, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.1% of gross income.
Indianola 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 Indianola, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Indianola
View full rent data for Indianola, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Indianola, IA?
Median rent in Indianola is $1,282 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 26.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Indianola?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Indianola's current median rent is $1,282/mo, which leaves a $193/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Indianola?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 45.2 hours a month to cover Indianola's median rent of $1,282.
Where is rent cheaper than Indianola for a chef?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Bettendorf ($1,280/mo), Bettendorf ($1,279/mo), Coralville ($1,278/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.