Can A Chef Afford Rent in Alhambra, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.1% of gross income.

Alhambra rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Alhambra median rent
$2,592/mo
Chef salary (California)
$75,697/yr
Rent as % of income
41.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,308, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,892/mo in rent. Alhambra's median rent of $2,592 exceeds that threshold by $700/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 71.2 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 California cities have lower median rent than Alhambra, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Montclair, CA
$2,591/mo (41.1% of income)
Montclair, CA
$2,591/mo (41.1% of income)
Salinas, CA
$2,590/mo (41.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Alhambra

View full rent data for Alhambra, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Alhambra, CA?

Median rent in Alhambra is $2,592 a month. A typical chef in California earns about $75,697 a year, which makes that rent 41.1% 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 Alhambra?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in California (~$75,697/yr) supports up to $1,892 a month in rent. Alhambra's current median rent is $2,592/mo, which is $700/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in California works roughly 71.2 hours a month to cover Alhambra's median rent of $2,592.

Where is rent cheaper than Alhambra for a chef?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Montclair ($2,591/mo), Montclair ($2,591/mo), Salinas ($2,590/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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