Can A Chef Afford Rent in Apple Valley, CA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.6% of gross income.

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

Apple Valley median rent
$1,868/mo
Chef salary (California)
$75,697/yr
Rent as % of income
29.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,308, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,892/mo in rent. Apple Valley's median rent of $1,868 leaves roughly $24/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 51.3 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 Apple Valley, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

South Gate, CA
$1,867/mo (29.6% of income)
Rocklin, CA
$1,867/mo (29.6% of income)
Garden Grove, CA
$1,866/mo (29.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Apple Valley

View full rent data for Apple Valley, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Apple Valley, CA?

Median rent in Apple Valley is $1,868 a month. A typical chef in California earns about $75,697 a year, which makes that rent 29.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Apple Valley?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in California (~$75,697/yr) supports up to $1,892 a month in rent. Apple Valley's current median rent is $1,868/mo, which leaves a $24/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in California works roughly 51.3 hours a month to cover Apple Valley's median rent of $1,868.

Where is rent cheaper than Apple Valley for a chef?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include South Gate ($1,867/mo), Rocklin ($1,867/mo), Garden Grove ($1,866/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 Apple Valley, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.