Can A Chef Afford Rent in Lake Station, IN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.5% of gross income.

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

Lake Station median rent
$1,450/mo
Chef salary (Indiana)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
29.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Lake Station's median rent of $1,450 leaves roughly $25/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 51.1 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 Lake Station, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Bloomington, IN
$1,449/mo (29.5% of income)
Schererville, IN
$1,449/mo (29.5% of income)
Bloomington, IN
$1,448/mo (29.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lake Station

View full rent data for Lake Station, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Lake Station, IN?

Median rent in Lake Station is $1,450 a month. A typical chef in Indiana earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 29.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Lake Station?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Indiana (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Lake Station's current median rent is $1,450/mo, which leaves a $25/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Indiana works roughly 51.1 hours a month to cover Lake Station's median rent of $1,450.

Where is rent cheaper than Lake Station for a chef?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Bloomington ($1,449/mo), Schererville ($1,449/mo), Bloomington ($1,448/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 Lake Station, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.