Can A Chef Afford Rent in Silver City, NM?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.1% of gross income.

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

Silver City median rent
$1,350/mo
Chef salary (New Mexico)
$57,735/yr
Rent as % of income
28.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,811, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,443/mo in rent. Silver City's median rent of $1,350 leaves roughly $93/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 48.6 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 Silver City, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Hobbs, NM
$1,349/mo (28% of income)
Hobbs, NM
$1,347/mo (28% of income)
Las Cruces, NM
$1,346/mo (28% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Silver City

View full rent data for Silver City, NM

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Silver City, NM?

Median rent in Silver City is $1,350 a month. A typical chef in New Mexico earns about $57,735 a year, which makes that rent 28.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Silver City?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New Mexico (~$57,735/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Silver City's current median rent is $1,350/mo, which leaves a $93/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in New Mexico works roughly 48.6 hours a month to cover Silver City's median rent of $1,350.

Where is rent cheaper than Silver City for a chef?

Nearby New Mexico cities with lower median rent include Hobbs ($1,349/mo), Hobbs ($1,347/mo), Las Cruces ($1,346/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 Silver City, NM. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.