Can A Chef Afford Rent in Maryland Heights, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.6% of gross income.

Maryland Heights rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Maryland Heights median rent
$1,208/mo
Chef salary (Missouri)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
24.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Maryland Heights's median rent of $1,208 leaves roughly $267/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 42.6 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 Maryland Heights, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Springfield, MO
$1,206/mo (24.5% of income)
Saint Ann, MO
$1,205/mo (24.5% of income)
Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO
$1,204/mo (24.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Maryland Heights

View full rent data for Maryland Heights, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Maryland Heights, MO?

Median rent in Maryland Heights is $1,208 a month. A typical chef in Missouri earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 24.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Maryland Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Missouri (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Maryland Heights's current median rent is $1,208/mo, which leaves a $267/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Missouri works roughly 42.6 hours a month to cover Maryland Heights's median rent of $1,208.

Where is rent cheaper than Maryland Heights for a chef?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Springfield ($1,206/mo), Saint Ann ($1,205/mo), Bellefontaine Neighbors ($1,204/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 Maryland Heights, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.