Can A Chef Afford Rent in Roswell, NM?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.3% of gross income.

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

Roswell median rent
$1,263/mo
Chef salary (New Mexico)
$57,735/yr
Rent as % of income
26.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,811, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,443/mo in rent. Roswell's median rent of $1,263 leaves roughly $180/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 45.5 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 Roswell, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Clovis, NM
$1,256/mo (26.1% of income)
Clovis, NM
$1,248/mo (25.9% of income)
Clovis, NM
$1,239/mo (25.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Roswell

View full rent data for Roswell, NM →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Roswell, NM?

Median rent in Roswell is $1,263 a month. A typical chef in New Mexico earns about $57,735 a year, which makes that rent 26.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Roswell?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New Mexico (~$57,735/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Roswell's current median rent is $1,263/mo, which leaves a $180/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in New Mexico works roughly 45.5 hours a month to cover Roswell's median rent of $1,263.

Where is rent cheaper than Roswell for a chef?

Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Clovis ($1,256/mo), Clovis ($1,248/mo), Clovis ($1,239/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 Roswell, NM. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.