Can A Chef Afford Rent in Watford City, ND?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.5% of gross income.

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

Watford City median rent
$1,322/mo
Chef salary (North Dakota)
$62,226/yr
Rent as % of income
25.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,186, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,556/mo in rent. Watford City's median rent of $1,322 leaves roughly $234/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 44.2 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 Watford City, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Mandan, ND
$1,321/mo (25.5% of income)
Bismarck, ND
$1,318/mo (25.4% of income)
Bismarck, ND
$1,316/mo (25.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Watford City

View full rent data for Watford City, ND

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Watford City, ND?

Median rent in Watford City is $1,322 a month. A typical chef in North Dakota earns about $62,226 a year, which makes that rent 25.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Watford City?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in North Dakota (~$62,226/yr) supports up to $1,556 a month in rent. Watford City's current median rent is $1,322/mo, which leaves a $234/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a chef in North Dakota works roughly 44.2 hours a month to cover Watford City's median rent of $1,322.

Where is rent cheaper than Watford City for a chef?

Nearby North Dakota cities with lower median rent include Mandan ($1,321/mo), Bismarck ($1,318/mo), Bismarck ($1,316/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 Watford City, ND. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.