Can A Chef Afford Rent in Menomonie, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.9% of gross income.

Menomonie rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Menomonie median rent
$1,162/mo
Chef salary (Wisconsin)
$60,943/yr
Rent as % of income
22.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,079, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,524/mo in rent. Menomonie's median rent of $1,162 leaves roughly $362/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 39.7 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 Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Menomonie, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Racine, WI
$1,161/mo (22.9% of income)
Menasha, WI
$1,158/mo (22.8% of income)
Fond du Lac, WI
$1,154/mo (22.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Menomonie

View full rent data for Menomonie, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Menomonie, WI?

Median rent in Menomonie is $1,162 a month. A typical chef in Wisconsin earns about $60,943 a year, which makes that rent 22.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Menomonie?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Wisconsin (~$60,943/yr) supports up to $1,524 a month in rent. Menomonie's current median rent is $1,162/mo, which leaves a $362/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Wisconsin works roughly 39.7 hours a month to cover Menomonie's median rent of $1,162.

Where is rent cheaper than Menomonie for a chef?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Racine ($1,161/mo), Menasha ($1,158/mo), Fond du Lac ($1,154/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 Menomonie, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.