Can A Chef Afford Rent in Lander, WY?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.4% of gross income.

Lander rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wyoming state estimate).

Lander median rent
$1,325/mo
Chef salary (Wyoming)
$60,301/yr
Rent as % of income
26.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,025, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,508/mo in rent. Lander's median rent of $1,325 leaves roughly $183/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 45.7 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 Wyoming cities have lower median rent than Lander, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Casper, WY
$1,302/mo (25.9% of income)
Cody, WY
$1,269/mo (25.3% of income)
Gillette, WY
$1,249/mo (24.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lander

View full rent data for Lander, WY

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Lander, WY?

Median rent in Lander is $1,325 a month. A typical chef in Wyoming earns about $60,301 a year, which makes that rent 26.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Lander?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Wyoming (~$60,301/yr) supports up to $1,508 a month in rent. Lander's current median rent is $1,325/mo, which leaves a $183/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a chef in Wyoming works roughly 45.7 hours a month to cover Lander's median rent of $1,325.

Where is rent cheaper than Lander for a chef?

Nearby Wyoming cities with lower median rent include Casper ($1,302/mo), Cody ($1,269/mo), Gillette ($1,249/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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