Can A Chef Afford Rent in Oshkosh, WI?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.8% of gross income.

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

Oshkosh median rent
$1,208/mo
Chef salary (Wisconsin)
$60,943/yr
Rent as % of income
23.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,079, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,524/mo in rent. Oshkosh's median rent of $1,208 leaves roughly $316/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 41.2 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 Oshkosh, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Chippewa Falls, WI
$1,207/mo (23.8% of income)
Menasha, WI
$1,206/mo (23.7% of income)
Appleton, WI
$1,206/mo (23.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Oshkosh

View full rent data for Oshkosh, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Oshkosh, WI?

Median rent in Oshkosh is $1,208 a month. A typical chef in Wisconsin earns about $60,943 a year, which makes that rent 23.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Oshkosh?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Wisconsin (~$60,943/yr) supports up to $1,524 a month in rent. Oshkosh's current median rent is $1,208/mo, which leaves a $316/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Wisconsin works roughly 41.2 hours a month to cover Oshkosh's median rent of $1,208.

Where is rent cheaper than Oshkosh for a chef?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Chippewa Falls ($1,207/mo), Menasha ($1,206/mo), Appleton ($1,206/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 Oshkosh, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.