Can A Chef Afford Rent in Kokomo, IN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.5% of gross income.

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

Kokomo median rent
$1,009/mo
Chef salary (Indiana)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
20.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Kokomo's median rent of $1,009 leaves roughly $466/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 35.6 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 Kokomo, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Goshen, IN
$1,007/mo (20.5% of income)
Evansville, IN
$1,001/mo (20.4% of income)
Evansville, IN
$997/mo (20.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kokomo

View full rent data for Kokomo, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Kokomo, IN?

Median rent in Kokomo is $1,009 a month. A typical chef in Indiana earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 20.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Kokomo?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Indiana (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Kokomo's current median rent is $1,009/mo, which leaves a $466/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Indiana works roughly 35.6 hours a month to cover Kokomo's median rent of $1,009.

Where is rent cheaper than Kokomo for a chef?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Goshen ($1,007/mo), Evansville ($1,001/mo), Evansville ($997/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 Kokomo, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.