Can A Chef Afford Rent in Rifle, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42.2% of gross income.

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

Rifle median rent
$2,367/mo
Chef salary (Colorado)
$67,358/yr
Rent as % of income
42.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,613, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,684/mo in rent. Rifle's median rent of $2,367 exceeds that threshold by $683/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 73.1 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 Rifle, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Windsor, CO
$2,363/mo (42.1% of income)
Windsor, CO
$2,356/mo (42% of income)
Louisville, CO
$2,355/mo (42% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rifle

View full rent data for Rifle, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Rifle, CO?

Median rent in Rifle is $2,367 a month. A typical chef in Colorado earns about $67,358 a year, which makes that rent 42.2% 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 Rifle?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Colorado (~$67,358/yr) supports up to $1,684 a month in rent. Rifle's current median rent is $2,367/mo, which is $683/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Colorado works roughly 73.1 hours a month to cover Rifle's median rent of $2,367.

Where is rent cheaper than Rifle for a chef?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Windsor ($2,363/mo), Windsor ($2,356/mo), Louisville ($2,355/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 Rifle, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.