Can A Chef Afford Rent in Saint Helens, OR?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.9% of gross income.
Saint Helens rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Oregon state estimate).
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 Saint Helens, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Saint Helens
View full rent data for Saint Helens, OR →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Saint Helens, OR?
Median rent in Saint Helens is $1,660 a month. A typical chef in Oregon earns about $66,716 a year, which makes that rent 29.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Saint Helens?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Oregon (~$66,716/yr) supports up to $1,668 a month in rent. Saint Helens's current median rent is $1,660/mo, which leaves a $8/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Saint Helens?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in Oregon works roughly 51.8 hours a month to cover Saint Helens's median rent of $1,660.
Where is rent cheaper than Saint Helens for a chef?
Nearby Oregon cities with lower median rent include Hermiston ($1,657/mo), Medford ($1,656/mo), McMinnville ($1,656/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.