Can A Chef Afford Rent in Cerritos, CA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 57.1% of gross income.
Cerritos rent: June 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 Cerritos, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Cerritos
View full rent data for Cerritos, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Cerritos, CA?
Median rent in Cerritos is $3,600 a month. A typical chef in California earns about $75,697 a year, which makes that rent 57.1% 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 Cerritos?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in California (~$75,697/yr) supports up to $1,892 a month in rent. Cerritos's current median rent is $3,600/mo, which is $1,708/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Cerritos?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in California works roughly 98.9 hours a month to cover Cerritos's median rent of $3,600.
Where is rent cheaper than Cerritos for a chef?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Discovery Bay ($3,599/mo), Marina ($3,598/mo), Santa Clara ($3,598/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.