Can A Chef Afford Rent in Pacific Grove, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.3% of gross income.

Pacific Grove rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Pacific Grove median rent
$2,860/mo
Chef salary (California)
$75,697/yr
Rent as % of income
45.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,308, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,892/mo in rent. Pacific Grove's median rent of $2,860 exceeds that threshold by $968/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 78.6 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 Pacific Grove, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Westlake Village, CA
$2,859/mo (45.3% of income)
Simi Valley, CA
$2,859/mo (45.3% of income)
Pleasanton, CA
$2,859/mo (45.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Pacific Grove

View full rent data for Pacific Grove, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Pacific Grove, CA?

Median rent in Pacific Grove is $2,860 a month. A typical chef in California earns about $75,697 a year, which makes that rent 45.3% 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 Pacific Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in California (~$75,697/yr) supports up to $1,892 a month in rent. Pacific Grove's current median rent is $2,860/mo, which is $968/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in California works roughly 78.6 hours a month to cover Pacific Grove's median rent of $2,860.

Where is rent cheaper than Pacific Grove for a chef?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Westlake Village ($2,859/mo), Simi Valley ($2,859/mo), Pleasanton ($2,859/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 Pacific Grove, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.