Can A Chef Afford Rent in Bozeman, MT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.3% of gross income.

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

Bozeman median rent
$2,227/mo
Chef salary (Montana)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
47.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Bozeman's median rent of $2,227 exceeds that threshold by $816/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 82.1 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 Bozeman, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Belgrade, MT
$2,223/mo (47.3% of income)
Belgrade, MT
$2,222/mo (47.2% of income)
Belgrade, MT
$2,222/mo (47.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bozeman

View full rent data for Bozeman, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Bozeman, MT?

Median rent in Bozeman is $2,227 a month. A typical chef in Montana earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 47.3% 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 Bozeman?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Montana (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Bozeman's current median rent is $2,227/mo, which is $816/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Montana works roughly 82.1 hours a month to cover Bozeman's median rent of $2,227.

Where is rent cheaper than Bozeman for a chef?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Belgrade ($2,223/mo), Belgrade ($2,222/mo), Belgrade ($2,222/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 Bozeman, MT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.