Can A Chef Afford Rent in Alamogordo, NM?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 32.1% of gross income.

Alamogordo rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Mexico state estimate).

Alamogordo median rent
$1,546/mo
Chef salary (New Mexico)
$57,735/yr
Rent as % of income
32.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,811, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,443/mo in rent. Alamogordo's median rent of $1,546 exceeds that threshold by $103/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 55.7 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 New Mexico cities have lower median rent than Alamogordo, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Santa Teresa, NM
$1,518/mo (31.6% of income)
Santa Teresa, NM
$1,509/mo (31.4% of income)
Santa Teresa, NM
$1,500/mo (31.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Alamogordo

View full rent data for Alamogordo, NM

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Alamogordo, NM?

Median rent in Alamogordo is $1,546 a month. A typical chef in New Mexico earns about $57,735 a year, which makes that rent 32.1% 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 Alamogordo?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New Mexico (~$57,735/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Alamogordo's current median rent is $1,546/mo, which is $103/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in New Mexico works roughly 55.7 hours a month to cover Alamogordo's median rent of $1,546.

Where is rent cheaper than Alamogordo for a chef?

Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Santa Teresa ($1,518/mo), Santa Teresa ($1,509/mo), Santa Teresa ($1,500/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived New Mexico state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Alamogordo, NM. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.