Can A Chef Afford Rent in Sioux Falls, SD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.2% of gross income.

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

Sioux Falls median rent
$1,327/mo
Chef salary (South Dakota)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
28.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Sioux Falls's median rent of $1,327 leaves roughly $84/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 48.9 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 Sioux Falls, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Brookings, SD
$1,317/mo (28% of income)
Box Elder, SD
$1,313/mo (27.9% of income)
Tea, SD
$1,309/mo (27.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sioux Falls

View full rent data for Sioux Falls, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Sioux Falls, SD?

Median rent in Sioux Falls is $1,327 a month. A typical chef in South Dakota earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 28.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Sioux Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in South Dakota (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Sioux Falls's current median rent is $1,327/mo, which leaves a $84/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in South Dakota works roughly 48.9 hours a month to cover Sioux Falls's median rent of $1,327.

Where is rent cheaper than Sioux Falls for a chef?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Brookings ($1,317/mo), Box Elder ($1,313/mo), Tea ($1,309/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 Sioux Falls, SD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.