Can A Chef Afford Rent in Bainbridge Island, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.9% of gross income.

Bainbridge Island rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Bainbridge Island median rent
$3,050/mo
Chef salary (Washington)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
50.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. Bainbridge Island's median rent of $3,050 exceeds that threshold by $1,254/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 88.3 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Bainbridge Island, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Maple Valley, WA
$3,047/mo (50.9% of income)
Issaquah, WA
$3,031/mo (50.6% of income)
Lake Stevens, WA
$3,023/mo (50.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bainbridge Island

View full rent data for Bainbridge Island, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Bainbridge Island, WA?

Median rent in Bainbridge Island is $3,050 a month. A typical chef in Washington earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 50.9% 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 Bainbridge Island?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Washington (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Bainbridge Island's current median rent is $3,050/mo, which is $1,254/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in Washington works roughly 88.3 hours a month to cover Bainbridge Island's median rent of $3,050.

Where is rent cheaper than Bainbridge Island for a chef?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Maple Valley ($3,047/mo), Issaquah ($3,031/mo), Lake Stevens ($3,023/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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