Can A Chef Afford Rent in Steamboat Springs, CO?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 63.4% of gross income.

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

Steamboat Springs median rent
$3,558/mo
Chef salary (Colorado)
$67,358/yr
Rent as % of income
63.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,613, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,684/mo in rent. Steamboat Springs's median rent of $3,558 exceeds that threshold by $1,874/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 109.9 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 Steamboat Springs, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Silverthorne, CO
$3,539/mo (63% of income)
Silverthorne, CO
$3,532/mo (62.9% of income)
Silverthorne, CO
$3,466/mo (61.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Steamboat Springs

View full rent data for Steamboat Springs, CO

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Steamboat Springs, CO?

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $3,558 a month. A typical chef in Colorado earns about $67,358 a year, which makes that rent 63.4% 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 Steamboat Springs?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Colorado (~$67,358/yr) supports up to $1,684 a month in rent. Steamboat Springs's current median rent is $3,558/mo, which is $1,874/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Colorado works roughly 109.9 hours a month to cover Steamboat Springs's median rent of $3,558.

Where is rent cheaper than Steamboat Springs for a chef?

Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Silverthorne ($3,539/mo), Silverthorne ($3,532/mo), Silverthorne ($3,466/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 Steamboat Springs, CO. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.