Can A Chef Afford Rent in Apple Valley, CA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.1% of gross income.
Apple Valley rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California 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 California cities have lower median rent than Apple Valley, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
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 $1,833 a month. A typical chef in California earns about $75,697 a year, which makes that rent 29.1% 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 $1,833/mo, which leaves a $59/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 50.4 hours a month to cover Apple Valley's median rent of $1,833.
Where is rent cheaper than Apple Valley for a chef?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Lemoore ($1,831/mo), Merced ($1,831/mo), Covina ($1,829/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.