Can A Chef Afford Rent in Bemidji, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.1% of gross income.

Bemidji rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Bemidji median rent
$1,287/mo
Chef salary (Minnesota)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
23.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Bemidji's median rent of $1,287 leaves roughly $381/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 40.1 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Bemidji, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Little Canada, MN
$1,285/mo (23.1% of income)
Little Canada, MN
$1,279/mo (23% of income)
Richfield, MN
$1,274/mo (22.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bemidji

View full rent data for Bemidji, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Bemidji, MN?

Median rent in Bemidji is $1,287 a month. A typical chef in Minnesota earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 23.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Bemidji?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Minnesota (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Bemidji's current median rent is $1,287/mo, which leaves a $381/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Minnesota works roughly 40.1 hours a month to cover Bemidji's median rent of $1,287.

Where is rent cheaper than Bemidji for a chef?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Little Canada ($1,285/mo), Little Canada ($1,279/mo), Richfield ($1,274/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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