Can A Chef Afford Rent in Waterloo, IA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.3% of gross income.
Waterloo 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 Waterloo, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Waterloo
View full rent data for Waterloo, IA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Waterloo, IA?
Median rent in Waterloo is $948 a month. A typical chef in Iowa earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 19.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Waterloo?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Iowa (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Waterloo's current median rent is $948/mo, which leaves a $527/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Waterloo?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Iowa works roughly 33.4 hours a month to cover Waterloo's median rent of $948.
Where is rent cheaper than Waterloo for a chef?
Nearby Iowa cities with lower median rent include Boone ($947/mo), Urbandale ($944/mo), Marshalltown ($941/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.