Can A Chef Afford Rent in Livingston, MT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.5% of gross income.

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

Livingston median rent
$1,339/mo
Chef salary (Montana)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
28.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Livingston's median rent of $1,339 leaves roughly $72/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 49.3 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 Livingston, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Billings, MT
$1,334/mo (28.4% of income)
Great Falls, MT
$1,333/mo (28.3% of income)
Great Falls, MT
$1,332/mo (28.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Livingston

View full rent data for Livingston, MT

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Livingston, MT?

Median rent in Livingston is $1,339 a month. A typical chef in Montana earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 28.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Livingston?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Montana (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Livingston's current median rent is $1,339/mo, which leaves a $72/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in Montana works roughly 49.3 hours a month to cover Livingston's median rent of $1,339.

Where is rent cheaper than Livingston for a chef?

Nearby Montana cities with lower median rent include Billings ($1,334/mo), Great Falls ($1,333/mo), Great Falls ($1,332/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 Livingston, MT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.