Can A Chef Afford Rent in Richland, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.3% of gross income.

Richland rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Washington state estimate).

Richland median rent
$1,697/mo
Chef salary (Washington)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
28.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. Richland's median rent of $1,697 leaves roughly $99/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 49.1 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 Richland, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Burien, WA
$1,696/mo (28.3% of income)
Liberty Lake, WA
$1,696/mo (28.3% of income)
Pasco, WA
$1,696/mo (28.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Richland

View full rent data for Richland, WA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Richland, WA?

Median rent in Richland is $1,697 a month. A typical chef in Washington earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 28.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Richland?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Washington (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Richland's current median rent is $1,697/mo, which leaves a $99/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in Washington works roughly 49.1 hours a month to cover Richland's median rent of $1,697.

Where is rent cheaper than Richland for a chef?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Burien ($1,696/mo), Liberty Lake ($1,696/mo), Pasco ($1,696/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 Richland, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.