Can A Chef Afford Rent in Castle Pines, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 47.3% of gross income.

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

Castle Pines median rent
$2,657/mo
Chef salary (Colorado)
$67,358/yr
Rent as % of income
47.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,613, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,684/mo in rent. Castle Pines's median rent of $2,657 exceeds that threshold by $973/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 82 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 Castle Pines, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Commerce City, CO
$2,655/mo (47.3% of income)
Timnath, CO
$2,652/mo (47.2% of income)
Highlands Ranch, CO
$2,650/mo (47.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Castle Pines

View full rent data for Castle Pines, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Castle Pines, CO?

Median rent in Castle Pines is $2,657 a month. A typical chef in Colorado earns about $67,358 a year, which makes that rent 47.3% 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 Castle Pines?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Colorado (~$67,358/yr) supports up to $1,684 a month in rent. Castle Pines's current median rent is $2,657/mo, which is $973/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Colorado works roughly 82 hours a month to cover Castle Pines's median rent of $2,657.

Where is rent cheaper than Castle Pines for a chef?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Commerce City ($2,655/mo), Timnath ($2,652/mo), Highlands Ranch ($2,650/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 Castle Pines, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.