Can A Chef Afford Rent in Brown Deer, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.9% of gross income.

Brown Deer rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Brown Deer median rent
$1,618/mo
Chef salary (Wisconsin)
$60,943/yr
Rent as % of income
31.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,079, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,524/mo in rent. Brown Deer's median rent of $1,618 exceeds that threshold by $94/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 55.2 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Brown Deer, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Madison, WI
$1,616/mo (31.8% of income)
River Falls, WI
$1,613/mo (31.8% of income)
Madison, WI
$1,613/mo (31.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brown Deer

View full rent data for Brown Deer, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Brown Deer, WI?

Median rent in Brown Deer is $1,618 a month. A typical chef in Wisconsin earns about $60,943 a year, which makes that rent 31.9% 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 Brown Deer?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Wisconsin (~$60,943/yr) supports up to $1,524 a month in rent. Brown Deer's current median rent is $1,618/mo, which is $94/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Wisconsin works roughly 55.2 hours a month to cover Brown Deer's median rent of $1,618.

Where is rent cheaper than Brown Deer for a chef?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Madison ($1,616/mo), River Falls ($1,613/mo), Madison ($1,613/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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