Can A Chef Afford Rent in Lebanon, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17.9% of gross income.

Lebanon rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Lebanon median rent
$879/mo
Chef salary (Missouri)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
17.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Lebanon's median rent of $879 leaves roughly $596/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 31 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 Lebanon, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Sedalia, MO
$877/mo (17.8% of income)
Boonville, MO
$873/mo (17.8% of income)
Jefferson City, MO
$871/mo (17.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lebanon

View full rent data for Lebanon, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Lebanon, MO?

Median rent in Lebanon is $879 a month. A typical chef in Missouri earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 17.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Lebanon?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Missouri (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Lebanon's current median rent is $879/mo, which leaves a $596/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Missouri works roughly 31 hours a month to cover Lebanon's median rent of $879.

Where is rent cheaper than Lebanon for a chef?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Sedalia ($877/mo), Boonville ($873/mo), Jefferson City ($871/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 Lebanon, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.