Can A Chef Afford Rent in Le Claire, IA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 59% of gross income.

Le Claire rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Iowa state estimate).

Le Claire median rent
$2,900/mo
Chef salary (Iowa)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
59%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Le Claire's median rent of $2,900 exceeds that threshold by $1,425/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 102.2 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 Le Claire, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Tiffin, IA
$2,027/mo (41.2% of income)
Tiffin, IA
$2,023/mo (41.1% of income)
Tiffin, IA
$1,926/mo (39.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Le Claire

View full rent data for Le Claire, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Le Claire, IA?

Median rent in Le Claire is $2,900 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 59% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Le Claire?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Le Claire's current median rent is $2,900/mo, which is $1,425/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 102.2 hours a month to cover Le Claire's median rent of $2,900.

Where is rent cheaper than Le Claire for a chef?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Tiffin ($2,027/mo), Tiffin ($2,023/mo), Tiffin ($1,926/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 Le Claire, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.