Can A Chef Afford Rent in Centralia, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.7% of gross income.

Centralia rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Centralia median rent
$1,300/mo
Chef salary (Washington)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
21.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. Centralia's median rent of $1,300 leaves roughly $496/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 37.6 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 Centralia, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Longview, WA
$1,296/mo (21.6% of income)
Pullman, WA
$1,291/mo (21.6% of income)
Pullman, WA
$1,287/mo (21.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Centralia

View full rent data for Centralia, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Centralia, WA?

Median rent in Centralia is $1,300 a month. A typical chef in Washington earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 21.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Centralia?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Washington (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Centralia's current median rent is $1,300/mo, which leaves a $496/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in Washington works roughly 37.6 hours a month to cover Centralia's median rent of $1,300.

Where is rent cheaper than Centralia for a chef?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Longview ($1,296/mo), Pullman ($1,291/mo), Pullman ($1,287/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 Centralia, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.