Can A Chef Afford Rent in Molalla, OR?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.4% of gross income.

Molalla rent: May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).

Molalla median rent
$1,859/mo
Chef salary (Oregon)
$66,716/yr
Rent as % of income
33.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,560, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,668/mo in rent. Molalla's median rent of $1,859 exceeds that threshold by $191/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 58 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 Molalla, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Gladstone, OR
$1,858/mo (33.4% of income)
Hillsboro, OR
$1,858/mo (33.4% of income)
Saint Helens, OR
$1,858/mo (33.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Molalla

View full rent data for Molalla, OR

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Molalla, OR?

Median rent in Molalla is $1,859 a month. A typical chef in Oregon earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 33.4% 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 Molalla?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Oregon (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Molalla's current median rent is $1,859/mo, which is $191/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Oregon works roughly 58 hours a month to cover Molalla's median rent of $1,859.

Where is rent cheaper than Molalla for a chef?

Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Gladstone ($1,858/mo), Hillsboro ($1,858/mo), Saint Helens ($1,858/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 Molalla, OR. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.