Can A Chef Afford Rent in Hood River, OR?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 63.3% of gross income.

Hood River rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Hood River median rent
$3,522/mo
Chef salary (Oregon)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
63.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Hood River's median rent of $3,522 exceeds that threshold by $1,854/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 109.8 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 Oregon cities have lower median rent than Hood River, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Sherwood, OR
$2,577/mo (46.4% of income)
Sherwood, OR
$2,497/mo (44.9% of income)
Sherwood, OR
$2,497/mo (44.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hood River

View full rent data for Hood River, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Hood River, OR?

Median rent in Hood River is $3,522 a month. A typical chef in Oregon earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 63.3% 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 Hood River?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Oregon (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Hood River's current median rent is $3,522/mo, which is $1,854/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Oregon works roughly 109.8 hours a month to cover Hood River's median rent of $3,522.

Where is rent cheaper than Hood River for a chef?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Sherwood ($2,577/mo), Sherwood ($2,497/mo), Sherwood ($2,497/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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