Can A Chef Afford Rent in Saint Louis, MO?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.5% of gross income.
Saint Louis rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Missouri state estimate).
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 Saint Louis, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Saint Louis
View full rent data for Saint Louis, MO →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Saint Louis, MO?
Median rent in Saint Louis is $1,352 a month. A typical chef in Missouri earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 27.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Saint Louis?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Missouri (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Saint Louis's current median rent is $1,352/mo, which leaves a $123/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Saint Louis?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Missouri works roughly 47.6 hours a month to cover Saint Louis's median rent of $1,352.
Where is rent cheaper than Saint Louis for a chef?
Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Ferguson ($1,351/mo), Hazelwood ($1,351/mo), Overland ($1,351/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.