Can A Chef Afford Rent in California City, CA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.8% of gross income.

California City rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

California City median rent
$1,756/mo
Chef salary (California)
$75,697/yr
Rent as % of income
27.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,308, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,892/mo in rent. California City's median rent of $1,756 leaves roughly $136/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 48.3 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 California City, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Crestline, CA
$1,753/mo (27.8% of income)
Placerville, CA
$1,749/mo (27.7% of income)
Tulare, CA
$1,749/mo (27.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for California City

View full rent data for California City, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in California City, CA?

Median rent in California City is $1,756 a month. A typical chef in California earns about $75,697 a year, which makes that rent 27.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in California City?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in California (~$75,697/yr) supports up to $1,892 a month in rent. California City's current median rent is $1,756/mo, which leaves a $136/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in California works roughly 48.3 hours a month to cover California City's median rent of $1,756.

Where is rent cheaper than California City for a chef?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Crestline ($1,753/mo), Placerville ($1,749/mo), Tulare ($1,749/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 California City, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.