Can A Chef Afford Rent in Gardner, KS?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.6% of gross income.

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

Gardner median rent
$1,569/mo
Chef salary (Kansas)
$57,735/yr
Rent as % of income
32.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,811, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,443/mo in rent. Gardner's median rent of $1,569 exceeds that threshold by $126/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 56.5 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 Gardner, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Lenexa, KS
$1,566/mo (32.5% of income)
Lenexa, KS
$1,559/mo (32.4% of income)
Lenexa, KS
$1,557/mo (32.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gardner

View full rent data for Gardner, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Gardner, KS?

Median rent in Gardner is $1,569 a month. A typical chef in Kansas earns about $57,735 a year, which makes that rent 32.6% 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 Gardner?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Kansas (~$57,735/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Gardner's current median rent is $1,569/mo, which is $126/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Kansas works roughly 56.5 hours a month to cover Gardner's median rent of $1,569.

Where is rent cheaper than Gardner for a chef?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Lenexa ($1,566/mo), Lenexa ($1,559/mo), Lenexa ($1,557/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 Gardner, KS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.