Can A Chef Afford Rent in Brookings, SD?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.4% of gross income.
Brookings rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).
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 Brookings, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Brookings
View full rent data for Brookings, SD →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Brookings, SD?
Median rent in Brookings is $1,100 a month. A typical chef in South Dakota earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 23.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Brookings?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in South Dakota (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Brookings's current median rent is $1,100/mo, which leaves a $311/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Brookings?
At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in South Dakota works roughly 40.5 hours a month to cover Brookings's median rent of $1,100.
Where is rent cheaper than Brookings for a chef?
Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Aberdeen ($1,049/mo), Vermillion ($1,045/mo), Brandon ($1,035/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.