Can A Chef Afford Rent in Lexington, NE?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.5% of gross income.

Lexington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Nebraska state estimate).

Lexington median rent
$1,319/mo
Chef salary (Nebraska)
$59,660/yr
Rent as % of income
26.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,972, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Lexington's median rent of $1,319 leaves roughly $173/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 46 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 Lexington, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

La Vista, NE
$1,315/mo (26.4% of income)
Lincoln, NE
$1,313/mo (26.4% of income)
Bennington, NE
$1,311/mo (26.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lexington

View full rent data for Lexington, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Lexington, NE?

Median rent in Lexington is $1,319 a month. A typical chef in Nebraska earns about $59,660 a year, which makes that rent 26.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Lexington?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Nebraska (~$59,660/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Lexington's current median rent is $1,319/mo, which leaves a $173/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Nebraska works roughly 46 hours a month to cover Lexington's median rent of $1,319.

Where is rent cheaper than Lexington for a chef?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include La Vista ($1,315/mo), Lincoln ($1,313/mo), Bennington ($1,311/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 Lexington, NE. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.