Can A Chef Afford Rent in Hopkins, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.5% of gross income.

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

Hopkins median rent
$1,584/mo
Chef salary (Minnesota)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
28.5%
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 $1,584 leaves roughly $84/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 49.4 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 Hopkins, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Forest Lake, MN
$1,583/mo (28.5% of income)
Eagan, MN
$1,582/mo (28.5% of income)
Columbia Heights, MN
$1,581/mo (28.4% 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 $1,584 a month. A typical chef in Minnesota earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 28.5% 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 $1,584/mo, which leaves a $84/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 49.4 hours a month to cover Hopkins's median rent of $1,584.

Where is rent cheaper than Hopkins for a chef?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Forest Lake ($1,583/mo), Eagan ($1,582/mo), Columbia Heights ($1,581/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.