Can A Chef Afford Rent in Cortez, CO?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.9% of gross income.
Cortez rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado 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 Colorado cities have lower median rent than Cortez, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Cortez
View full rent data for Cortez, CO →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Cortez, CO?
Median rent in Cortez is $1,567 a month. A typical chef in Colorado earns about $67,358 a year, which makes that rent 27.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Cortez?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Colorado (~$67,358/yr) supports up to $1,684 a month in rent. Cortez's current median rent is $1,567/mo, which leaves a $117/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Cortez?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Colorado works roughly 48.4 hours a month to cover Cortez's median rent of $1,567.
Where is rent cheaper than Cortez for a chef?
Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Longmont ($1,559/mo), Northglenn ($1,557/mo), Fort Collins ($1,544/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.