Can A Chef Afford Rent in Salina, KS?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.3% of gross income.

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

Salina median rent
$1,026/mo
Chef salary (Kansas)
$57,735/yr
Rent as % of income
21.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,811, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,443/mo in rent. Salina's median rent of $1,026 leaves roughly $417/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 37 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 Salina, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Lawrence, KS
$981/mo (20.4% of income)
Kansas City, KS
$980/mo (20.4% of income)
Pittsburg, KS
$962/mo (20% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Salina

View full rent data for Salina, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Salina, KS?

Median rent in Salina is $1,026 a month. A typical chef in Kansas earns about $57,735 a year, which makes that rent 21.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Salina?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Kansas (~$57,735/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Salina's current median rent is $1,026/mo, which leaves a $417/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Kansas works roughly 37 hours a month to cover Salina's median rent of $1,026.

Where is rent cheaper than Salina for a chef?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Lawrence ($981/mo), Kansas City ($980/mo), Pittsburg ($962/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 Salina, KS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.