Can A Chef Afford Rent in Pocatello, ID?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.3% of gross income.

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

Pocatello median rent
$1,063/mo
Chef salary (Idaho)
$57,094/yr
Rent as % of income
22.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,758, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,427/mo in rent. Pocatello's median rent of $1,063 leaves roughly $364/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 38.7 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 Pocatello, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Blackfoot, ID
$1,060/mo (22.3% of income)
Nampa, ID
$1,052/mo (22.1% of income)
Blackfoot, ID
$988/mo (20.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pocatello

View full rent data for Pocatello, ID

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Pocatello, ID?

Median rent in Pocatello is $1,063 a month. A typical chef in Idaho earns about $57,094 a year, which makes that rent 22.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Pocatello?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Idaho (~$57,094/yr) supports up to $1,427 a month in rent. Pocatello's current median rent is $1,063/mo, which leaves a $364/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Idaho works roughly 38.7 hours a month to cover Pocatello's median rent of $1,063.

Where is rent cheaper than Pocatello for a chef?

Nearby Idaho cities with lower median rent include Blackfoot ($1,060/mo), Nampa ($1,052/mo), Blackfoot ($988/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 Pocatello, ID. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.