Can A Chef Afford Rent in Walla Walla, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.2% of gross income.

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

Walla Walla median rent
$1,506/mo
Chef salary (Washington)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
25.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. Walla Walla's median rent of $1,506 leaves roughly $290/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 43.6 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 Walla Walla, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Moses Lake, WA
$1,504/mo (25.1% of income)
Kent, WA
$1,504/mo (25.1% of income)
Auburn, WA
$1,503/mo (25.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Walla Walla

View full rent data for Walla Walla, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Walla Walla, WA?

Median rent in Walla Walla is $1,506 a month. A typical chef in Washington earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 25.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Walla Walla?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Washington (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Walla Walla's current median rent is $1,506/mo, which leaves a $290/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in Washington works roughly 43.6 hours a month to cover Walla Walla's median rent of $1,506.

Where is rent cheaper than Walla Walla for a chef?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Moses Lake ($1,504/mo), Kent ($1,504/mo), Auburn ($1,503/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 Walla Walla, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.