Can A Chef Afford Rent in Santa Clara, UT?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.7% of gross income.

Santa Clara rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Utah state estimate).

Santa Clara median rent
$2,139/mo
Chef salary (Utah)
$61,584/yr
Rent as % of income
41.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,132, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,540/mo in rent. Santa Clara's median rent of $2,139 exceeds that threshold by $599/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 72.2 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 Utah cities have lower median rent than Santa Clara, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Ivins, UT
$2,138/mo (41.7% of income)
Saratoga Springs, UT
$2,137/mo (41.6% of income)
Saratoga Springs, UT
$2,135/mo (41.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Santa Clara

View full rent data for Santa Clara, UT

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Santa Clara, UT?

Median rent in Santa Clara is $2,139 a month. A typical chef in Utah earns about $61,584 a year, which makes that rent 41.7% 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 Santa Clara?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Utah (~$61,584/yr) supports up to $1,540 a month in rent. Santa Clara's current median rent is $2,139/mo, which is $599/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a chef in Utah works roughly 72.2 hours a month to cover Santa Clara's median rent of $2,139.

Where is rent cheaper than Santa Clara for a chef?

Nearby Utah cities with lower median rent include Ivins ($2,138/mo), Saratoga Springs ($2,137/mo), Saratoga Springs ($2,135/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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