Can A Chef Afford Rent in Tea, SD?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.7% of gross income.

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

Tea median rent
$1,257/mo
Chef salary (South Dakota)
$56,452/yr
Rent as % of income
26.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,704, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,411/mo in rent. Tea's median rent of $1,257 leaves roughly $154/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 46.3 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 Tea, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Rapid City, SD
$1,256/mo (26.7% of income)
Vermillion, SD
$1,250/mo (26.6% of income)
Sioux Falls, SD
$1,247/mo (26.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tea

View full rent data for Tea, SD

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Tea, SD?

Median rent in Tea is $1,257 a month. A typical chef in South Dakota earns about $56,452 a year, which makes that rent 26.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Tea?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in South Dakota (~$56,452/yr) supports up to $1,411 a month in rent. Tea's current median rent is $1,257/mo, which leaves a $154/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a chef in South Dakota works roughly 46.3 hours a month to cover Tea's median rent of $1,257.

Where is rent cheaper than Tea for a chef?

Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Rapid City ($1,256/mo), Vermillion ($1,250/mo), Sioux Falls ($1,247/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 Tea, SD. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.