Can A Chef Afford Rent in Moses Lake, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.7% of gross income.

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

Moses Lake median rent
$1,481/mo
Chef salary (Washington)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
24.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. Moses Lake's median rent of $1,481 leaves roughly $315/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 42.9 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 Moses Lake, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Spokane Valley, WA
$1,480/mo (24.7% of income)
Centralia, WA
$1,480/mo (24.7% of income)
Chehalis, WA
$1,480/mo (24.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Moses Lake

View full rent data for Moses Lake, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Moses Lake, WA?

Median rent in Moses Lake is $1,481 a month. A typical chef in Washington earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 24.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Moses Lake?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Washington (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Moses Lake's current median rent is $1,481/mo, which leaves a $315/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in Washington works roughly 42.9 hours a month to cover Moses Lake's median rent of $1,481.

Where is rent cheaper than Moses Lake for a chef?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Spokane Valley ($1,480/mo), Centralia ($1,480/mo), Chehalis ($1,480/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 Moses Lake, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.