Can A Chef Afford Rent in Evansville, IN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.1% of gross income.

Evansville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

Evansville median rent
$1,038/mo
Chef salary (Indiana)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
21.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Evansville's median rent of $1,038 leaves roughly $437/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 36.6 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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than Evansville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Elkhart, IN
$1,037/mo (21.1% of income)
Elkhart, IN
$1,035/mo (21% of income)
Columbia City, IN
$1,035/mo (21% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Evansville

View full rent data for Evansville, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Evansville, IN?

Median rent in Evansville is $1,038 a month. A typical chef in Indiana earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 21.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Evansville?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Indiana (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Evansville's current median rent is $1,038/mo, which leaves a $437/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Indiana works roughly 36.6 hours a month to cover Evansville's median rent of $1,038.

Where is rent cheaper than Evansville for a chef?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Elkhart ($1,037/mo), Elkhart ($1,035/mo), Columbia City ($1,035/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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