Can A Chef Afford Rent in Blaine, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.7% of gross income.

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

Blaine median rent
$2,150/mo
Chef salary (Minnesota)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
38.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Blaine's median rent of $2,150 exceeds that threshold by $482/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 67 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 Blaine, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Champlin, MN
$2,148/mo (38.6% of income)
Maple Grove, MN
$2,139/mo (38.5% of income)
Woodbury, MN
$2,133/mo (38.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Blaine

View full rent data for Blaine, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Blaine, MN?

Median rent in Blaine is $2,150 a month. A typical chef in Minnesota earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 38.7% 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 Blaine?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Minnesota (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Blaine's current median rent is $2,150/mo, which is $482/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Minnesota works roughly 67 hours a month to cover Blaine's median rent of $2,150.

Where is rent cheaper than Blaine for a chef?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Champlin ($2,148/mo), Maple Grove ($2,139/mo), Woodbury ($2,133/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 Blaine, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.