Can A Chef Afford Rent in Marion, IN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.4% of gross income.

Marion rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

Marion median rent
$955/mo
Chef salary (Indiana)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
19.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Marion's median rent of $955 leaves roughly $520/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 33.7 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 Indiana cities have lower median rent than Marion, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

East Chicago, IN
$952/mo (19.4% of income)
Terre Haute, IN
$942/mo (19.2% of income)
Terre Haute, IN
$942/mo (19.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Marion

View full rent data for Marion, IN →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Marion, IN?

Median rent in Marion is $955 a month. A typical chef in Indiana earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 19.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Marion?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Indiana (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Marion's current median rent is $955/mo, which leaves a $520/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Indiana works roughly 33.7 hours a month to cover Marion's median rent of $955.

Where is rent cheaper than Marion for a chef?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include East Chicago ($952/mo), Terre Haute ($942/mo), Terre Haute ($942/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 Marion, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.