Can A Chef Afford Rent in Wenatchee, WA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.9% of gross income.

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

Wenatchee median rent
$1,729/mo
Chef salary (Washington)
$71,848/yr
Rent as % of income
28.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,987, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,796/mo in rent. Wenatchee's median rent of $1,729 leaves roughly $67/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.1 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 Wenatchee, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Liberty Lake, WA
$1,728/mo (28.9% of income)
Lakewood, WA
$1,728/mo (28.9% of income)
Fife, WA
$1,727/mo (28.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Wenatchee

View full rent data for Wenatchee, WA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Wenatchee, WA?

Median rent in Wenatchee is $1,729 a month. A typical chef in Washington earns about $71,848 a year, which makes that rent 28.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Wenatchee?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Washington (~$71,848/yr) supports up to $1,796 a month in rent. Wenatchee's current median rent is $1,729/mo, which leaves a $67/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a chef in Washington works roughly 50.1 hours a month to cover Wenatchee's median rent of $1,729.

Where is rent cheaper than Wenatchee for a chef?

Nearby Washington cities with lower median rent include Liberty Lake ($1,728/mo), Lakewood ($1,728/mo), Fife ($1,727/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 Wenatchee, WA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.