Can A Chef Afford Rent in Great Falls, MT?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.5% of gross income.
Great Falls rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Montana 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 Montana cities have lower median rent than Great Falls, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Great Falls
View full rent data for Great Falls, MT →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Great Falls, MT?
Median rent in Great Falls is $1,388 a month. A typical chef in Montana earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 29.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Great Falls?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Montana (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Great Falls's current median rent is $1,388/mo, which leaves a $23/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Great Falls?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Montana works roughly 51.1 hours a month to cover Great Falls's median rent of $1,388.
Where is rent cheaper than Great Falls for a chef?
Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Livingston ($1,383/mo), Billings ($1,383/mo), Billings ($1,374/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.