Can A Chef Afford Rent in Golden Valley, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36% of gross income.

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

Golden Valley median rent
$2,001/mo
Chef salary (Minnesota)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
36%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Golden Valley's median rent of $2,001 exceeds that threshold by $333/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 62.4 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 Golden Valley, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Edina, MN
$1,999/mo (36% of income)
Rosemount, MN
$1,998/mo (35.9% of income)
Rosemount, MN
$1,996/mo (35.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Golden Valley

View full rent data for Golden Valley, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Golden Valley, MN?

Median rent in Golden Valley is $2,001 a month. A typical chef in Minnesota earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 36% 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 Golden Valley?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Minnesota (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Golden Valley's current median rent is $2,001/mo, which is $333/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Minnesota works roughly 62.4 hours a month to cover Golden Valley's median rent of $2,001.

Where is rent cheaper than Golden Valley for a chef?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Edina ($1,999/mo), Rosemount ($1,998/mo), Rosemount ($1,996/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 Golden Valley, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.