Can A Chef Afford Rent in Hopkins, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.7% of gross income.

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

Hopkins median rent
$1,539/mo
Chef salary (Minnesota)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
27.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Hopkins's median rent of $1,539 leaves roughly $129/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 48 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 Hopkins, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Maplewood, MN
$1,537/mo (27.6% of income)
Brooklyn Center, MN
$1,534/mo (27.6% of income)
Robbinsdale, MN
$1,533/mo (27.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hopkins

View full rent data for Hopkins, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Hopkins, MN?

Median rent in Hopkins is $1,539 a month. A typical chef in Minnesota earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 27.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Hopkins?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Minnesota (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Hopkins's current median rent is $1,539/mo, which leaves a $129/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Minnesota works roughly 48 hours a month to cover Hopkins's median rent of $1,539.

Where is rent cheaper than Hopkins for a chef?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Maplewood ($1,537/mo), Brooklyn Center ($1,534/mo), Robbinsdale ($1,533/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 Hopkins, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.