Can A Chef Afford Rent in Riverside, MO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.5% of gross income.

Riverside rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).

Riverside median rent
$1,994/mo
Chef salary (Missouri)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
40.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Riverside's median rent of $1,994 exceeds that threshold by $519/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 70.3 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 Riverside, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Olivette, MO
$1,973/mo (40.1% of income)
Olivette, MO
$1,962/mo (39.9% of income)
Olivette, MO
$1,954/mo (39.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Riverside

View full rent data for Riverside, MO →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Riverside, MO?

Median rent in Riverside is $1,994 a month. A typical chef in Missouri earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 40.5% 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 Riverside?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Missouri (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Riverside's current median rent is $1,994/mo, which is $519/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Missouri works roughly 70.3 hours a month to cover Riverside's median rent of $1,994.

Where is rent cheaper than Riverside for a chef?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Olivette ($1,973/mo), Olivette ($1,962/mo), Olivette ($1,954/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 Riverside, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.