Can A Chef Afford Rent in Smithville, MO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.2% of gross income.

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

Smithville median rent
$2,126/mo
Chef salary (Missouri)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
43.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Smithville's median rent of $2,126 exceeds that threshold by $651/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 74.9 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 Smithville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Riverside, MO
$2,051/mo (41.7% of income)
Chesterfield, MO
$2,022/mo (41.1% of income)
Grain Valley, MO
$1,991/mo (40.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Smithville

View full rent data for Smithville, MO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Smithville, MO?

Median rent in Smithville is $2,126 a month. A typical chef in Missouri earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 43.2% 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 Smithville?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Missouri (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Smithville's current median rent is $2,126/mo, which is $651/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Missouri works roughly 74.9 hours a month to cover Smithville's median rent of $2,126.

Where is rent cheaper than Smithville for a chef?

Nearby Missouri cities with lower median rent include Riverside ($2,051/mo), Chesterfield ($2,022/mo), Grain Valley ($1,991/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 Smithville, MO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.