Can A Chef Afford Rent in Neenah, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.1% of gross income.

Neenah rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Neenah median rent
$1,175/mo
Chef salary (Wisconsin)
$60,943/yr
Rent as % of income
23.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,079, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,524/mo in rent. Neenah's median rent of $1,175 leaves roughly $349/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 40.1 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 Neenah, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Fond du Lac, WI
$1,169/mo (23% of income)
Marshfield, WI
$1,167/mo (23% of income)
West Bend, WI
$1,167/mo (23% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Neenah

View full rent data for Neenah, WI →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Neenah, WI?

Median rent in Neenah is $1,175 a month. A typical chef in Wisconsin earns about $60,943 a year, which makes that rent 23.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Neenah?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Wisconsin (~$60,943/yr) supports up to $1,524 a month in rent. Neenah's current median rent is $1,175/mo, which leaves a $349/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Wisconsin works roughly 40.1 hours a month to cover Neenah's median rent of $1,175.

Where is rent cheaper than Neenah for a chef?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Fond du Lac ($1,169/mo), Marshfield ($1,167/mo), West Bend ($1,167/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 Neenah, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.