Can A Chef Afford Rent in La Grande, OR?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.4% of gross income.

La Grande rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

La Grande median rent
$1,359/mo
Chef salary (Oregon)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
24.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. La Grande's median rent of $1,359 leaves roughly $309/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 42.4 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 La Grande, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Tualatin, OR
$1,356/mo (24.4% of income)
Monmouth, OR
$1,355/mo (24.4% of income)
Monmouth, OR
$1,350/mo (24.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for La Grande

View full rent data for La Grande, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in La Grande, OR?

Median rent in La Grande is $1,359 a month. A typical chef in Oregon earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 24.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in La Grande?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Oregon (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. La Grande's current median rent is $1,359/mo, which leaves a $309/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Oregon works roughly 42.4 hours a month to cover La Grande's median rent of $1,359.

Where is rent cheaper than La Grande for a chef?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Tualatin ($1,356/mo), Monmouth ($1,355/mo), Monmouth ($1,350/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 La Grande, OR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.