Can A Chef Afford Rent in Monticello, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.2% of gross income.

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

Monticello median rent
$1,623/mo
Chef salary (Minnesota)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
29.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Monticello's median rent of $1,623 leaves roughly $45/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.6 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 Monticello, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Coon Rapids, MN
$1,622/mo (29.2% of income)
Eagan, MN
$1,622/mo (29.2% of income)
Brooklyn Park, MN
$1,621/mo (29.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Monticello

View full rent data for Monticello, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Monticello, MN?

Median rent in Monticello is $1,623 a month. A typical chef in Minnesota earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 29.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Monticello?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Minnesota (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Monticello's current median rent is $1,623/mo, which leaves a $45/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Minnesota works roughly 50.6 hours a month to cover Monticello's median rent of $1,623.

Where is rent cheaper than Monticello for a chef?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Coon Rapids ($1,622/mo), Eagan ($1,622/mo), Brooklyn Park ($1,621/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 Monticello, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.