Can A Chef Afford Rent in North Bend, WA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 54.6% of gross income.

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

North Bend median rent
$3,269/mo
Chef salary (Washington)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
54.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. North Bend's median rent of $3,269 exceeds that threshold by $1,473/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 94.6 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 North Bend, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Sammamish, WA
$3,185/mo (53.2% of income)
Sammamish, WA
$3,181/mo (53.1% of income)
Snoqualmie, WA
$3,173/mo (53% of income)

Compare with full rent data for North Bend

View full rent data for North Bend, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in North Bend, WA?

Median rent in North Bend is $3,269 a month. A typical chef in Washington earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 54.6% 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 North Bend?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Washington (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. North Bend's current median rent is $3,269/mo, which is $1,473/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in Washington works roughly 94.6 hours a month to cover North Bend's median rent of $3,269.

Where is rent cheaper than North Bend for a chef?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Sammamish ($3,185/mo), Sammamish ($3,181/mo), Snoqualmie ($3,173/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 North Bend, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.