Can A Chef Afford Rent in Mesa, AZ?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.5% of gross income.
Mesa rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Arizona state estimate).
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 Arizona cities have lower median rent than Mesa, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Mesa
View full rent data for Mesa, AZ →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Mesa, AZ?
Median rent in Mesa is $1,532 a month. A typical chef in Arizona earns about $62,226 a year, which makes that rent 29.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Mesa?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Arizona (~$62,226/yr) supports up to $1,556 a month in rent. Mesa's current median rent is $1,532/mo, which leaves a $24/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Mesa?
At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a chef in Arizona works roughly 51.2 hours a month to cover Mesa's median rent of $1,532.
Where is rent cheaper than Mesa for a chef?
Nearby Arizona cities with lower median rent include Scottsdale ($1,530/mo), Youngtown ($1,524/mo), Glendale ($1,522/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.