Can A Chef Afford Rent in Sun Prairie, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.3% of gross income.

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

Sun Prairie median rent
$1,642/mo
Chef salary (Wisconsin)
$60,943/yr
Rent as % of income
32.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,079, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,524/mo in rent. Sun Prairie's median rent of $1,642 exceeds that threshold by $118/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 56 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 Sun Prairie, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Mount Pleasant, WI
$1,640/mo (32.3% of income)
Madison, WI
$1,640/mo (32.3% of income)
Madison, WI
$1,640/mo (32.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Sun Prairie

View full rent data for Sun Prairie, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Sun Prairie, WI?

Median rent in Sun Prairie is $1,642 a month. A typical chef in Wisconsin earns about $60,943 a year, which makes that rent 32.3% 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 Sun Prairie?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Wisconsin (~$60,943/yr) supports up to $1,524 a month in rent. Sun Prairie's current median rent is $1,642/mo, which is $118/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Wisconsin works roughly 56 hours a month to cover Sun Prairie's median rent of $1,642.

Where is rent cheaper than Sun Prairie for a chef?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Mount Pleasant ($1,640/mo), Madison ($1,640/mo), Madison ($1,640/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 Sun Prairie, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.