Can A Chef Afford Rent in Erie, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 52% of gross income.

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

Erie median rent
$2,920/mo
Chef salary (Colorado)
$67,358/yr
Rent as % of income
52%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,613, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,684/mo in rent. Erie's median rent of $2,920 exceeds that threshold by $1,236/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 90.2 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 Erie, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Castle Pines, CO
$2,889/mo (51.5% of income)
Timnath, CO
$2,881/mo (51.3% of income)
Timnath, CO
$2,859/mo (50.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Erie

View full rent data for Erie, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Erie, CO?

Median rent in Erie is $2,920 a month. A typical chef in Colorado earns about $67,358 a year, which makes that rent 52% 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 Erie?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Colorado (~$67,358/yr) supports up to $1,684 a month in rent. Erie's current median rent is $2,920/mo, which is $1,236/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Colorado works roughly 90.2 hours a month to cover Erie's median rent of $2,920.

Where is rent cheaper than Erie for a chef?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Castle Pines ($2,889/mo), Timnath ($2,881/mo), Timnath ($2,859/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 Erie, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.