Can A Chef Afford Rent in Idaho Falls, ID?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.1% of gross income.

Idaho Falls rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Idaho state estimate).

Idaho Falls median rent
$1,383/mo
Chef salary (Idaho)
$57,094/yr
Rent as % of income
29.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,758, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,427/mo in rent. Idaho Falls's median rent of $1,383 leaves roughly $44/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.4 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 Idaho Falls, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Shelley, ID
$1,375/mo (28.9% of income)
Mountain Home, ID
$1,362/mo (28.6% of income)
Chubbuck, ID
$1,308/mo (27.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Idaho Falls

View full rent data for Idaho Falls, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Idaho Falls, ID?

Median rent in Idaho Falls is $1,383 a month. A typical chef in Idaho earns about $57,094 a year, which makes that rent 29.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Idaho Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Idaho (~$57,094/yr) supports up to $1,427 a month in rent. Idaho Falls's current median rent is $1,383/mo, which leaves a $44/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Idaho works roughly 50.4 hours a month to cover Idaho Falls's median rent of $1,383.

Where is rent cheaper than Idaho Falls for a chef?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Shelley ($1,375/mo), Mountain Home ($1,362/mo), Chubbuck ($1,308/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 Idaho Falls, ID. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.