Can A Chef Afford Rent in Albert Lea, MN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.3% of gross income.
Albert Lea rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).
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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Albert Lea, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Albert Lea
View full rent data for Albert Lea, MN →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Albert Lea, MN?
Median rent in Albert Lea is $960 a month. A typical chef in Minnesota earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 17.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Albert Lea?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Minnesota (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Albert Lea's current median rent is $960/mo, which leaves a $708/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Albert Lea?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Minnesota works roughly 29.9 hours a month to cover Albert Lea's median rent of $960.
Where is rent cheaper than Albert Lea for a chef?
Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($947/mo), Saint Cloud ($905/mo), Saint Cloud ($872/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.