Can A Chef Afford Rent in Ceres, CA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.1% of gross income.

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

Ceres median rent
$1,960/mo
Chef salary (California)
$75,697/yr
Rent as % of income
31.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,308, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,892/mo in rent. Ceres's median rent of $1,960 exceeds that threshold by $68/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 53.9 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 Ceres, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Hemet, CA
$1,958/mo (31% of income)
San Bernardino, CA
$1,958/mo (31% of income)
Hawthorne, CA
$1,957/mo (31% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ceres

View full rent data for Ceres, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Ceres, CA?

Median rent in Ceres is $1,960 a month. A typical chef in California earns about $75,697 a year, which makes that rent 31.1% 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 Ceres?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in California (~$75,697/yr) supports up to $1,892 a month in rent. Ceres's current median rent is $1,960/mo, which is $68/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in California works roughly 53.9 hours a month to cover Ceres's median rent of $1,960.

Where is rent cheaper than Ceres for a chef?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Hemet ($1,958/mo), San Bernardino ($1,958/mo), Hawthorne ($1,957/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 Ceres, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.