Can A Chef Afford Rent in Clifton, CO?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.4% of gross income.

Clifton rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).

Clifton median rent
$1,371/mo
Chef salary (Colorado)
$67,358/yr
Rent as % of income
24.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,613, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,684/mo in rent. Clifton's median rent of $1,371 leaves roughly $313/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 42.3 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 Clifton, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Manitou Springs, CO
$1,369/mo (24.4% of income)
Manitou Springs, CO
$1,369/mo (24.4% of income)
Manitou Springs, CO
$1,368/mo (24.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clifton

View full rent data for Clifton, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Clifton, CO?

Median rent in Clifton is $1,371 a month. A typical chef in Colorado earns about $67,358 a year, which makes that rent 24.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Clifton?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Colorado (~$67,358/yr) supports up to $1,684 a month in rent. Clifton's current median rent is $1,371/mo, which leaves a $313/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Colorado works roughly 42.3 hours a month to cover Clifton's median rent of $1,371.

Where is rent cheaper than Clifton for a chef?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Manitou Springs ($1,369/mo), Manitou Springs ($1,369/mo), Manitou Springs ($1,368/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 Clifton, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.