Can A Chef Afford Rent in Artesia, NM?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 53.7% of gross income.

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

Artesia median rent
$2,583/mo
Chef salary (New Mexico)
$57,735/yr
Rent as % of income
53.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,811, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,443/mo in rent. Artesia's median rent of $2,583 exceeds that threshold by $1,140/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 93.1 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 New Mexico cities have lower median rent than Artesia, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Los Alamos, NM
$2,544/mo (52.9% of income)
Los Lunas, NM
$2,125/mo (44.2% of income)
Los Lunas, NM
$2,043/mo (42.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Artesia

View full rent data for Artesia, NM

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Artesia, NM?

Median rent in Artesia is $2,583 a month. A typical chef in New Mexico earns about $57,735 a year, which makes that rent 53.7% 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 Artesia?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New Mexico (~$57,735/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Artesia's current median rent is $2,583/mo, which is $1,140/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in New Mexico works roughly 93.1 hours a month to cover Artesia's median rent of $2,583.

Where is rent cheaper than Artesia for a chef?

Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Los Alamos ($2,544/mo), Los Lunas ($2,125/mo), Los Lunas ($2,043/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 Artesia, NM. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.