Can A Chef Afford Rent in Basalt, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 86% of gross income.

Basalt rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Basalt median rent
$4,825/mo
Chef salary (Colorado)
$67,358/yr
Rent as % of income
86%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,613, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,684/mo in rent. Basalt's median rent of $4,825 exceeds that threshold by $3,141/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 149 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Basalt, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Carbondale, CO
$4,648/mo (82.8% of income)
Carbondale, CO
$4,608/mo (82.1% of income)
Carbondale, CO
$4,298/mo (76.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Basalt

View full rent data for Basalt, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Basalt, CO?

Median rent in Basalt is $4,825 a month. A typical chef in Colorado earns about $67,358 a year, which makes that rent 86% 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 Basalt?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Colorado (~$67,358/yr) supports up to $1,684 a month in rent. Basalt's current median rent is $4,825/mo, which is $3,141/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Colorado works roughly 149 hours a month to cover Basalt's median rent of $4,825.

Where is rent cheaper than Basalt for a chef?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Carbondale ($4,648/mo), Carbondale ($4,608/mo), Carbondale ($4,298/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Colorado state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Basalt, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.