Can A Chef Afford Rent in Grand Island, NE?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.1% of gross income.

Grand Island rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).

Grand Island median rent
$1,296/mo
Chef salary (Nebraska)
$59,660/yr
Rent as % of income
26.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,972, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Grand Island's median rent of $1,296 leaves roughly $196/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 45.2 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 Nebraska cities have lower median rent than Grand Island, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Lincoln, NE
$1,295/mo (26% of income)
Lincoln, NE
$1,294/mo (26% of income)
Lincoln, NE
$1,294/mo (26% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Grand Island

View full rent data for Grand Island, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Grand Island, NE?

Median rent in Grand Island is $1,296 a month. A typical chef in Nebraska earns about $59,660 a year, which makes that rent 26.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Grand Island?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Nebraska (~$59,660/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Grand Island's current median rent is $1,296/mo, which leaves a $196/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Nebraska works roughly 45.2 hours a month to cover Grand Island's median rent of $1,296.

Where is rent cheaper than Grand Island for a chef?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include Lincoln ($1,295/mo), Lincoln ($1,294/mo), Lincoln ($1,294/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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