Can A Chef Afford Rent in Portage, IN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.5% of gross income.

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

Portage median rent
$1,449/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. Portage's median rent of $1,449 leaves roughly $26/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 Portage, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Warsaw, IN
$1,443/mo (29.3% of income)
Valparaiso, IN
$1,438/mo (29.2% of income)
Warsaw, IN
$1,438/mo (29.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Portage

View full rent data for Portage, IN →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Portage, IN?

Median rent in Portage is $1,449 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 Portage?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Indiana (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Portage's current median rent is $1,449/mo, which leaves a $26/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Indiana works roughly 51.1 hours a month to cover Portage's median rent of $1,449.

Where is rent cheaper than Portage for a chef?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Warsaw ($1,443/mo), Valparaiso ($1,438/mo), Warsaw ($1,438/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 Portage, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.