Can A Chef Afford Rent in Brentwood, MO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.8% of gross income.

Brentwood rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Brentwood median rent
$1,811/mo
Chef salary (Missouri)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
36.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Brentwood's median rent of $1,811 exceeds that threshold by $336/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 63.8 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 Missouri cities have lower median rent than Brentwood, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Clayton, MO
$1,809/mo (36.8% of income)
O Fallon, MO
$1,807/mo (36.7% of income)
Wentzville, MO
$1,807/mo (36.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brentwood

View full rent data for Brentwood, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Brentwood, MO?

Median rent in Brentwood is $1,811 a month. A typical chef in Missouri earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 36.8% 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 Brentwood?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Missouri (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Brentwood's current median rent is $1,811/mo, which is $336/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Missouri works roughly 63.8 hours a month to cover Brentwood's median rent of $1,811.

Where is rent cheaper than Brentwood for a chef?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Clayton ($1,809/mo), O Fallon ($1,807/mo), Wentzville ($1,807/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Missouri state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Brentwood, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.