Can A Chef Afford Rent in Jamestown, ND?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.5% of gross income.

Jamestown rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Dakota state estimate).

Jamestown median rent
$1,117/mo
Chef salary (North Dakota)
$62,226/yr
Rent as % of income
21.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,186, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,556/mo in rent. Jamestown's median rent of $1,117 leaves roughly $439/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 37.3 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 North Dakota cities have lower median rent than Jamestown, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Grand Forks, ND
$1,115/mo (21.5% of income)
Grand Forks, ND
$1,113/mo (21.5% of income)
Mandan, ND
$1,110/mo (21.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Jamestown

View full rent data for Jamestown, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Jamestown, ND?

Median rent in Jamestown is $1,117 a month. A typical chef in North Dakota earns about $62,226 a year, which makes that rent 21.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Jamestown?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in North Dakota (~$62,226/yr) supports up to $1,556 a month in rent. Jamestown's current median rent is $1,117/mo, which leaves a $439/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a chef in North Dakota works roughly 37.3 hours a month to cover Jamestown's median rent of $1,117.

Where is rent cheaper than Jamestown for a chef?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Grand Forks ($1,115/mo), Grand Forks ($1,113/mo), Mandan ($1,110/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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