Can A Chef Afford Rent in Saint Cloud, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.2% of gross income.

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

Saint Cloud median rent
$1,232/mo
Chef salary (Minnesota)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
22.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Saint Cloud's median rent of $1,232 leaves roughly $436/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 38.4 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 Saint Cloud, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Burnsville, MN
$1,226/mo (22.1% of income)
Mankato, MN
$1,217/mo (21.9% of income)
Waite Park, MN
$1,209/mo (21.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saint Cloud

View full rent data for Saint Cloud, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Saint Cloud, MN?

Median rent in Saint Cloud is $1,232 a month. A typical chef in Minnesota earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 22.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Saint Cloud?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Minnesota (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Saint Cloud's current median rent is $1,232/mo, which leaves a $436/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Minnesota works roughly 38.4 hours a month to cover Saint Cloud's median rent of $1,232.

Where is rent cheaper than Saint Cloud for a chef?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Burnsville ($1,226/mo), Mankato ($1,217/mo), Waite Park ($1,209/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 Saint Cloud, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.