Rent Affordability for A Chef in Kansas
A typical chef in Kansas earns about $57,735 a year, which supports approximately $1,443 a month in rent under the 30% rule. Below, every tracked Kansas city is ranked by how local rent compares against that affordability ceiling.
As of May 2026. 15 of 28 cities tracked stay within the 30% rule; 13 are rent-burdened on this salary.
| City↕ | Median rent↕ | % of income↑ | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence, KS | $700/mo | 14.5% | very comfortable |
| Great Bend, KS | $758/mo | 15.8% | very comfortable |
| Hutchinson, KS | $834/mo | 17.3% | very comfortable |
| Emporia, KS | $890/mo | 18.5% | very comfortable |
| Pittsburg, KS | $914/mo | 19% | very comfortable |
| Salina, KS | $966/mo | 20.1% | affordable |
| Newton, KS | $1,084/mo | 22.5% | affordable |
| Wichita, KS | $1,158/mo | 24.1% | affordable |
| Leavenworth, KS | $1,255/mo | 26.1% | affordable |
| Junction City, KS | $1,265/mo | 26.3% | affordable |
| Topeka, KS | $1,287/mo | 26.7% | affordable |
| Manhattan, KS | $1,332/mo | 27.7% | affordable |
| Park City, KS | $1,340/mo | 27.9% | affordable |
| Kansas City, KS | $1,346/mo | 28% | affordable |
| Lawrence, KS | $1,365/mo | 28.4% | affordable |
| Derby, KS | $1,523/mo | 31.7% | stretched |
| Shawnee, KS | $1,577/mo | 32.8% | stretched |
| Gardner, KS | $1,624/mo | 33.8% | stretched |
| Mission, KS | $1,634/mo | 34% | stretched |
| Bel Aire, KS | $1,674/mo | 34.8% | stretched |
| Goddard, KS | $1,698/mo | 35.3% | stretched |
| Lenexa, KS | $1,712/mo | 35.6% | stretched |
| Overland Park, KS | $1,794/mo | 37.3% | stretched |
| Leawood, KS | $1,849/mo | 38.4% | stretched |
| Olathe, KS | $1,855/mo | 38.6% | stretched |
| Fairway, KS | $2,007/mo | 41.7% | rent-burdened |
| Spring Hill, KS | $2,016/mo | 41.9% | rent-burdened |
| Prairie Village, KS | $2,267/mo | 47.1% | rent-burdened |