Can A Chef Afford Rent in Saint Louis Park, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.5% of gross income.

Saint Louis Park rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Saint Louis Park median rent
$1,865/mo
Chef salary (Minnesota)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
33.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Saint Louis Park's median rent of $1,865 exceeds that threshold by $197/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 58.1 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 Saint Louis Park, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Inver Grove Heights, MN
$1,864/mo (33.5% of income)
Inver Grove Heights, MN
$1,863/mo (33.5% of income)
Ramsey, MN
$1,862/mo (33.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saint Louis Park

View full rent data for Saint Louis Park, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Saint Louis Park, MN?

Median rent in Saint Louis Park is $1,865 a month. A typical chef in Minnesota earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 33.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Saint Louis Park?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Minnesota (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Saint Louis Park's current median rent is $1,865/mo, which is $197/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Minnesota works roughly 58.1 hours a month to cover Saint Louis Park's median rent of $1,865.

Where is rent cheaper than Saint Louis Park for a chef?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Inver Grove Heights ($1,864/mo), Inver Grove Heights ($1,863/mo), Ramsey ($1,862/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 Louis Park, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.