Can A Chef Afford Rent in Derby, KS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.9% of gross income.

Derby rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Derby median rent
$1,582/mo
Chef salary (Kansas)
$57,735/yr
Rent as % of income
32.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,811, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,443/mo in rent. Derby's median rent of $1,582 exceeds that threshold by $139/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 57 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 Kansas cities have lower median rent than Derby, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Gardner, KS
$1,580/mo (32.8% of income)
Goddard, KS
$1,578/mo (32.8% of income)
Gardner, KS
$1,575/mo (32.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Derby

View full rent data for Derby, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Derby, KS?

Median rent in Derby is $1,582 a month. A typical chef in Kansas earns about $57,735 a year, which makes that rent 32.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Derby?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Kansas (~$57,735/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Derby's current median rent is $1,582/mo, which is $139/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Kansas works roughly 57 hours a month to cover Derby's median rent of $1,582.

Where is rent cheaper than Derby for a chef?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Gardner ($1,580/mo), Goddard ($1,578/mo), Gardner ($1,575/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Kansas state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Derby, KS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.