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✆ 1-844-626-6922What Does a Private Chef Cost? 2026 Rates and What You Get
A private chef costs $35 to $55+ per hour. A chef cooking three days a week typically runs $1,000 to $1,800 a week before groceries, and a full-time private chef is usually a salaried position.
Dream Nannies places private chefs alongside nannies, house managers, and household staff with families across Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida, and Texas. Here is what the role actually costs and what you get for it.
Private chef vs. personal chef
The terms get used interchangeably and they are not the same thing.
A private chef works for one household on a set schedule – daily, or two to four days a week. They learn your family’s preferences, manage the kitchen, and cook to order.
A personal chef serves several clients rather than one. They often cook in the family’s own home on scheduled visits, the same as a private chef would, and may also batch-prepare meals for the week. The difference is exclusivity, not location or quality.
Which one fits depends on how much of your week needs covering. A personal chef splitting time between households is a good fit for a family wanting a few dinners a week. A private chef makes sense when you want someone dedicated to your household, available as the schedule shifts, who knows your kitchen and your family’s tastes inside out.
What a private chef costs
| Arrangement | Typical cost | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $35–$55+/hr | Menu planning, shopping, cooking, kitchen cleanup |
| Part-time, 3 days/week | $1,000–$1,800/week | Weeknight dinners plus prepared meals for the off days |
| Full-time | Salaried, quoted per household | Daily cooking, entertaining, travel with the family |
Ranges reflect Dream Nannies placement experience across the Southeast, Florida, and Texas, updated September 2026. Groceries are billed separately in every arrangement.
What drives the rate
- Training and background. Formal culinary training and restaurant experience sit at the top of the range.
- Dietary specialization. Chefs experienced with allergies, medical diets, or a specific protocol command more, and are worth it.
- Entertaining. Families who host regularly need a chef who can run a dinner party, which is a different skill from weeknight cooking.
- Travel. A chef who travels to a second home or on holiday is paid for travel time and lodging on top.
- Household size. Cooking for eight is not cooking for three.
What is not included in the hourly rate
Groceries, always. Budget for food separately and decide upfront whether the chef shops on a household card or is reimbursed. A chef cooking for a family of four typically spends $300 to $600 a week on groceries depending on the menu, though this varies enormously with what you eat.
Specialty equipment, if your kitchen lacks it, and any cost of travel are also separate.
How families actually use a private chef
The most common arrangement we place is three days a week. The chef arrives mid-afternoon, cooks dinner, and leaves prepared meals for the days they are not there. That covers the weeknight dinners that are hardest for working parents to manage, without the cost of a full-time position.
Families who entertain often, have complex dietary needs, or run larger households tend toward full-time. Families with young children frequently pair a part-time chef with a nanny – between them the evening stops being a scramble.
Private Chef Costs — Frequently Asked Questions
Most families pay $35 to $55+ per hour for a private chef. A part-time chef cooking three days a week typically runs $1,000 to $1,800 a week, and a full-time private chef is generally a salaried role.
A private chef works exclusively for one household on a set schedule. A personal chef serves several clients and will often cook in your home too, though they may also batch-prepare meals. The real difference is exclusivity and availability rather than where the cooking happens.
No. Groceries are billed separately, either on a household card or reimbursed. Budget for food costs on top of the hourly rate, and agree upfront who does the shopping.
Menu planning around the family’s preferences and dietary needs, shopping, cooking, and kitchen management. Many also handle dinner parties, stock the fridge for the week, and travel with the family.
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons families hire one. Be explicit about requirements during the search – a chef experienced with a specific dietary protocol is worth more than a generalist.
Most families start with two or three days a week, which covers the weeknight dinners that are hardest to manage. Full-time makes sense for larger households, frequent entertaining, or families managing complex dietary needs.
Looking for a private chef?
Tell us what you need and we will start the search. Every Dream Nannies candidate completes a background check, reference verification, and an interview with our team, and chefs additionally cook a tasting for the family before placement.
Related reading: what a night nurse costs, and our 2026 salary guides for Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, and Palm Beach.
Ready to start your search?
Tell us what your family needs and we’ll begin the search. We place nannies, newborn care specialists, housekeepers, house managers, private chefs, and personal assistants across Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida, and Texas.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 1-844-626-6922.
Looking for a position instead? Apply to join our roster or browse current openings.