Can A Chef Afford Rent in Northwoods, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.1% of gross income.

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

Northwoods median rent
$1,331/mo
Chef salary (Missouri)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
27.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Northwoods's median rent of $1,331 leaves roughly $144/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 46.9 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 Northwoods, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Berkeley, MO
$1,329/mo (27% of income)
Fenton, MO
$1,328/mo (27% of income)
Saint Louis, MO
$1,326/mo (27% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Northwoods

View full rent data for Northwoods, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Northwoods, MO?

Median rent in Northwoods is $1,331 a month. A typical chef in Missouri earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 27.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Northwoods?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Missouri (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Northwoods's current median rent is $1,331/mo, which leaves a $144/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Missouri works roughly 46.9 hours a month to cover Northwoods's median rent of $1,331.

Where is rent cheaper than Northwoods for a chef?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Berkeley ($1,329/mo), Fenton ($1,328/mo), Saint Louis ($1,326/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 Northwoods, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.