Can A Chef Afford Rent in Northfield, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.5% of gross income.

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

Northfield median rent
$1,640/mo
Chef salary (Minnesota)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
29.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Northfield's median rent of $1,640 leaves roughly $28/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 51.1 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 Northfield, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

White Bear Lake, MN
$1,639/mo (29.5% of income)
Oakdale, MN
$1,639/mo (29.5% of income)
White Bear Lake, MN
$1,639/mo (29.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Northfield

View full rent data for Northfield, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Northfield, MN?

Median rent in Northfield is $1,640 a month. A typical chef in Minnesota earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 29.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Northfield?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Minnesota (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Northfield's current median rent is $1,640/mo, which leaves a $28/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Minnesota works roughly 51.1 hours a month to cover Northfield's median rent of $1,640.

Where is rent cheaper than Northfield for a chef?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include White Bear Lake ($1,639/mo), Oakdale ($1,639/mo), White Bear Lake ($1,639/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 Northfield, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.