Can A Chef Afford Rent in Aberdeen, SD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.3% of gross income.

Aberdeen rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).

Aberdeen median rent
$1,049/mo
Chef salary (South Dakota)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
22.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Aberdeen's median rent of $1,049 leaves roughly $362/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 38.7 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 South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Aberdeen, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Vermillion, SD
$1,045/mo (22.2% of income)
Brandon, SD
$1,035/mo (22% of income)
Mitchell, SD
$1,021/mo (21.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Aberdeen

View full rent data for Aberdeen, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Aberdeen, SD?

Median rent in Aberdeen is $1,049 a month. A typical chef in South Dakota earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 22.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Aberdeen?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in South Dakota (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Aberdeen's current median rent is $1,049/mo, which leaves a $362/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in South Dakota works roughly 38.7 hours a month to cover Aberdeen's median rent of $1,049.

Where is rent cheaper than Aberdeen for a chef?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Vermillion ($1,045/mo), Brandon ($1,035/mo), Mitchell ($1,021/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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