Can A Chef Afford Rent in Knoxville, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.1% of gross income.

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

Knoxville median rent
$941/mo
Chef salary (Iowa)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
19.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Knoxville's median rent of $941 leaves roughly $534/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 33.2 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 Knoxville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Marshalltown, IA
$934/mo (19% of income)
Davenport, IA
$932/mo (19% of income)
Marshalltown, IA
$932/mo (19% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Knoxville

View full rent data for Knoxville, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Knoxville, IA?

Median rent in Knoxville is $941 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 19.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Knoxville?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Knoxville's current median rent is $941/mo, which leaves a $534/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 33.2 hours a month to cover Knoxville's median rent of $941.

Where is rent cheaper than Knoxville for a chef?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Marshalltown ($934/mo), Davenport ($932/mo), Marshalltown ($932/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 Knoxville, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.