Can A Chef Afford Rent in Mandan, ND?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.2% of gross income.

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

Mandan median rent
$1,410/mo
Chef salary (North Dakota)
$62,226/yr
Rent as % of income
27.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,186, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,556/mo in rent. Mandan's median rent of $1,410 leaves roughly $146/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 47.1 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 North Dakota cities have lower median rent than Mandan, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

West Fargo, ND
$1,395/mo (26.9% of income)
Bismarck, ND
$1,374/mo (26.5% of income)
Bismarck, ND
$1,372/mo (26.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Mandan

View full rent data for Mandan, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Mandan, ND?

Median rent in Mandan is $1,410 a month. A typical chef in North Dakota earns about $62,226 a year, which makes that rent 27.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Mandan?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in North Dakota (~$62,226/yr) supports up to $1,556 a month in rent. Mandan's current median rent is $1,410/mo, which leaves a $146/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a chef in North Dakota works roughly 47.1 hours a month to cover Mandan's median rent of $1,410.

Where is rent cheaper than Mandan for a chef?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include West Fargo ($1,395/mo), Bismarck ($1,374/mo), Bismarck ($1,372/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 Mandan, ND. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.