Can A Chef Afford Rent in Omaha, NE?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.2% of gross income.

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

Omaha median rent
$1,453/mo
Chef salary (Nebraska)
$59,660/yr
Rent as % of income
29.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,972, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Omaha's median rent of $1,453 leaves roughly $39/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.7 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 Omaha, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Kearney, NE
$1,451/mo (29.2% of income)
Columbus, NE
$1,447/mo (29.1% of income)
Kearney, NE
$1,445/mo (29.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Omaha

View full rent data for Omaha, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Omaha, NE?

Median rent in Omaha is $1,453 a month. A typical chef in Nebraska earns about $59,660 a year, which makes that rent 29.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Omaha?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Nebraska (~$59,660/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Omaha's current median rent is $1,453/mo, which leaves a $39/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Nebraska works roughly 50.7 hours a month to cover Omaha's median rent of $1,453.

Where is rent cheaper than Omaha for a chef?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include Kearney ($1,451/mo), Columbus ($1,447/mo), Kearney ($1,445/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 Omaha, NE. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.