Can A Chef Afford Rent in Coeur d'Alene, ID?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38% of gross income.

Coeur d'Alene rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).

Coeur d'Alene median rent
$1,807/mo
Chef salary (Idaho)
$57,094/yr
Rent as % of income
38%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,758, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,427/mo in rent. Coeur d'Alene's median rent of $1,807 exceeds that threshold by $380/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 65.8 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 Idaho cities have lower median rent than Coeur d'Alene, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Rathdrum, ID
$1,791/mo (37.6% of income)
Rathdrum, ID
$1,787/mo (37.6% of income)
Garden City, ID
$1,786/mo (37.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Coeur d'Alene

View full rent data for Coeur d'Alene, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Coeur d'Alene, ID?

Median rent in Coeur d'Alene is $1,807 a month. A typical chef in Idaho earns about $57,094 a year, which makes that rent 38% 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 Coeur d'Alene?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Idaho (~$57,094/yr) supports up to $1,427 a month in rent. Coeur d'Alene's current median rent is $1,807/mo, which is $380/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Coeur d'Alene?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Idaho works roughly 65.8 hours a month to cover Coeur d'Alene's median rent of $1,807.

Where is rent cheaper than Coeur d'Alene for a chef?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Rathdrum ($1,791/mo), Rathdrum ($1,787/mo), Garden City ($1,786/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Idaho state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Coeur d'Alene, ID. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.