Can A Chef Afford Rent in Belgrade, MT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.5% of gross income.

Belgrade rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana state estimate).

Belgrade median rent
$2,188/mo
Chef salary (Montana)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
46.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Belgrade's median rent of $2,188 exceeds that threshold by $777/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 80.6 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Belgrade, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Bozeman, MT
$2,128/mo (45.2% of income)
Bozeman, MT
$2,127/mo (45.2% of income)
Bozeman, MT
$2,117/mo (45% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Belgrade

View full rent data for Belgrade, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Belgrade, MT?

Median rent in Belgrade is $2,188 a month. A typical chef in Montana earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 46.5% 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 Belgrade?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Montana (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Belgrade's current median rent is $2,188/mo, which is $777/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Montana works roughly 80.6 hours a month to cover Belgrade's median rent of $2,188.

Where is rent cheaper than Belgrade for a chef?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Bozeman ($2,128/mo), Bozeman ($2,127/mo), Bozeman ($2,117/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Montana state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Belgrade, MT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.