Can A Chef Afford Rent in Newton, IA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.6% of gross income.

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

Newton median rent
$962/mo
Chef salary (Iowa)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
19.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Newton's median rent of $962 leaves roughly $513/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 33.9 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 Newton, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Knoxville, IA
$956/mo (19.4% of income)
Cedar Rapids, IA
$953/mo (19.4% of income)
Davenport, IA
$952/mo (19.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Newton

View full rent data for Newton, IA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Newton, IA?

Median rent in Newton is $962 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 19.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Newton?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Newton's current median rent is $962/mo, which leaves a $513/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 33.9 hours a month to cover Newton's median rent of $962.

Where is rent cheaper than Newton for a chef?

Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Knoxville ($956/mo), Cedar Rapids ($953/mo), Davenport ($952/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 Newton, IA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.