Can A Chef Afford Rent in Burien, WA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.2% of gross income.
Burien rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington 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 Washington cities have lower median rent than Burien, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Burien
View full rent data for Burien, WA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Burien, WA?
Median rent in Burien is $1,748 a month. A typical chef in Washington earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 29.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Burien?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Washington (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Burien's current median rent is $1,748/mo, which leaves a $48/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Burien?
At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in Washington works roughly 50.6 hours a month to cover Burien's median rent of $1,748.
Where is rent cheaper than Burien for a chef?
Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Liberty Lake ($1,746/mo), Richland ($1,745/mo), Leavenworth ($1,744/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.