Can A Chef Afford Rent in Ozark, MO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.8% of gross income.

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

Ozark median rent
$1,467/mo
Chef salary (Missouri)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
29.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Ozark's median rent of $1,467 leaves roughly $8/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 51.7 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 Ozark, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Creve Coeur, MO
$1,465/mo (29.8% of income)
Nixa, MO
$1,465/mo (29.8% of income)
Nixa, MO
$1,464/mo (29.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ozark

View full rent data for Ozark, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Ozark, MO?

Median rent in Ozark is $1,467 a month. A typical chef in Missouri earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 29.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Ozark?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Missouri (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Ozark's current median rent is $1,467/mo, which leaves a $8/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Missouri works roughly 51.7 hours a month to cover Ozark's median rent of $1,467.

Where is rent cheaper than Ozark for a chef?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Creve Coeur ($1,465/mo), Nixa ($1,465/mo), Nixa ($1,464/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 Ozark, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.