Can A Chef Afford Rent in Papillion, NE?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.1% of gross income.

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

Papillion median rent
$1,693/mo
Chef salary (Nebraska)
$59,660/yr
Rent as % of income
34.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,972, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,492/mo in rent. Papillion's median rent of $1,693 exceeds that threshold by $201/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 59 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 Papillion, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Gretna, NE
$1,659/mo (33.4% of income)
Gretna, NE
$1,642/mo (33% of income)
Gretna, NE
$1,624/mo (32.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Papillion

View full rent data for Papillion, NE

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Papillion, NE?

Median rent in Papillion is $1,693 a month. A typical chef in Nebraska earns about $59,660 a year, which makes that rent 34.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Papillion?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Nebraska (~$59,660/yr) supports up to $1,492 a month in rent. Papillion's current median rent is $1,693/mo, which is $201/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Nebraska works roughly 59 hours a month to cover Papillion's median rent of $1,693.

Where is rent cheaper than Papillion for a chef?

Nearby Nebraska cities with lower median rent include Gretna ($1,659/mo), Gretna ($1,642/mo), Gretna ($1,624/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 Papillion, NE. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.