Can A Chef Afford Rent in Santa Rosa, CA?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.2% of gross income.
Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Santa Rosa
View full rent data for Santa Rosa, CA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Santa Rosa, CA?
Median rent in Santa Rosa is $2,534 a month. A typical chef in California earns about $75,697 a year, which makes that rent 40.2% 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 Santa Rosa?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in California (~$75,697/yr) supports up to $1,892 a month in rent. Santa Rosa's current median rent is $2,534/mo, which is $642/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Santa Rosa?
At an hourly equivalent of about $36 an hour, a chef in California works roughly 69.6 hours a month to cover Santa Rosa's median rent of $2,534.
Where is rent cheaper than Santa Rosa for a chef?
Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Indio ($2,533/mo), Jurupa Valley ($2,533/mo), Union City ($2,533/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.