Can A Chef Afford Rent in Montrose, CO?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.1% of gross income.

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

Montrose median rent
$2,027/mo
Chef salary (Colorado)
$67,358/yr
Rent as % of income
36.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,613, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,684/mo in rent. Montrose's median rent of $2,027 exceeds that threshold by $343/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 62.6 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 Montrose, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Fountain, CO
$2,026/mo (36.1% of income)
Fountain, CO
$2,026/mo (36.1% of income)
Durango, CO
$2,026/mo (36.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Montrose

View full rent data for Montrose, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Montrose, CO?

Median rent in Montrose is $2,027 a month. A typical chef in Colorado earns about $67,358 a year, which makes that rent 36.1% 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 Montrose?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Colorado (~$67,358/yr) supports up to $1,684 a month in rent. Montrose's current median rent is $2,027/mo, which is $343/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Colorado works roughly 62.6 hours a month to cover Montrose's median rent of $2,027.

Where is rent cheaper than Montrose for a chef?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Fountain ($2,026/mo), Fountain ($2,026/mo), Durango ($2,026/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 Montrose, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.