Can A Chef Afford Rent in Bloomington, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.3% of gross income.

Bloomington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Bloomington median rent
$1,684/mo
Chef salary (Minnesota)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
30.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Bloomington's median rent of $1,684 exceeds that threshold by $16/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 52.5 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 Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Bloomington, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

White Bear Lake, MN
$1,683/mo (30.3% of income)
Shakopee, MN
$1,682/mo (30.3% of income)
Forest Lake, MN
$1,682/mo (30.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bloomington

View full rent data for Bloomington, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Bloomington, MN?

Median rent in Bloomington is $1,684 a month. A typical chef in Minnesota earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 30.3% 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 Bloomington?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Minnesota (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Bloomington's current median rent is $1,684/mo, which is $16/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Minnesota works roughly 52.5 hours a month to cover Bloomington's median rent of $1,684.

Where is rent cheaper than Bloomington for a chef?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include White Bear Lake ($1,683/mo), Shakopee ($1,682/mo), Forest Lake ($1,682/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 Bloomington, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.