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How Much Does a Personal Chef Cost in 2022? Discover everything you need to know about Private Chef's rates.

Published January 04 2022

private-chef-syrena

In 2022, a Personal Chef's cost $76 per person on average.

  • The national average price for a dinner of 8 was: $608
  • The minimum price for 8 guests was: $400
  • The maximum price for 8 guests was: $2000

The rate included:

  • Chef's time
  • Transportation
  • Grocery shopping
  • Food items
  • Preparation
  • Cooking
  • Service
  • Cleaning
  • Taxes

Personal Chef Cost | How do we know?

We launched MiumMium.com on Dec. 12, 2015. Since day one, we have served thousands of meals across the world, from Personal Chefs in Miami to Private Chefs in Toronto, Professional Chefs in Rome to Skilled Cooks in Cancun. Our policy is clear; the price of our chefs must be fully transparent. 

The price given by a MiumMium Chef includes all costs: Chef's time, transportation, grocery shopping, food costs, preparation, cooking, service, cleaning, and taxes. Only the tip remains discretionary and is never requested. The price quoted to the client by the private chef is what needs to be paid, there are no hidden costs.

To get to $76 as the average cost for a personal chef, we calculated the price of all the bookings made on the site during the last year and divided the sum by the number of clients we have served since day one. The cheapest meals were priced between $30 and $50 p.p., the maximum cost observed on 7-course meals served was above $200 p.p. in the largest US and European cities. 

On average we entertained 7.38 guests for a total cost of $560. 

What's interesting is to realize that the price of a chef cooking for you at home is similar, if not lower, than the cost of a three-course meal in a good restaurant...and remember, this amount doesn’t take into consideration the savings realized on wine, parking, and the babysitter!

food prepared for senior at home

Why did you believe that personal chef service rates were more than $76 p.p.?

Simply because you mixed up what are Personal Chefs with what are Caterers. A Personal Cook is usually a cook, or a chef, who works in a restaurant and offers his cooking services at a cost during his free time to generate additional income and meet new and interesting people. Believe me, it is much more fun and personal to have a glass of wine with the guests of a bachelorette party for 3 hours, than working in an overheated kitchen for 10 for less money. A caterer is not a personal chef, it is a professional who owns a catering business. 

If the Private Chef is Airbnb, well the Caterer is the Hotel. Like everyone running a business, the Caterer faces fixed costs such as rent and payroll. For the same reasons a hotel room is more expensive than renting an Airbnb, caterer services will be pricier than a personal chef. 

Historically caterers care for large events, such as weddings or big corporate functions. With the rise of the demand for Personal Chefs, the catering industry saw an opportunity to increase its revenues by entering this emerging market. However, the caterers continue to carry the same heavy cost structure; which explains the price difference between the two. 

A search of the most popular Catering companies operating in Montreal (MiumMium largest market with close to 200 chefs servicing the city) shows the following price structure:

personal chef at work

 Personal Chef Prices

DINNER PARTY- 8 GUESTS

$700

Chef Price p.p.: $76  x 8  Cost for the Chef: IncludedTransportation: IncludedTaxes: IncludedTip: 15% 

Caterer Prices

DINNER PARTY- 8 GUESTS

$1400

Caterer Price p.p.: $100  x 8  Cost for the Chef: $200   Transportation: $50   Taxes: 15%  Tip: 15%

senior-meals-home-services-care

- Caterers can be 100% more expensive than Personal Chefs! 

The good news is that we expect the spread between both providers to shrink as time passes and the Catering industry adapts to the emergence of chef marketplace platforms like MiumMium. Like hotels gradually evolved to compete against Airbnb.com by dropping their prices and offering rooms on vacation rental platforms, Caterers are adjusting their offers and have started listing their services on marketplaces. Remember also that a personal cook in your home will deliver a more personal experience to you and your guest than someone showing up with an already prepared meal.

Today, it may be difficult to differentiate a Private Chef's website from a caterer's website. To avoid any surprises, always ask for the complete detailed price of your dining experience in writing before agreeing.

plank-salmon-guide-food-service

What factors impact the cost of a personal chef?

Cost of living:

The cost of ingredients to prepare your meals will depend a lot on where the meal is taking place. The cost of an A1 steak in New York will be different than a similar piece of meat in Dallas. Likewise, the more expensive it is to live in a city, the more our chefs will need to charge to make a living. 

The number of servings during the meal:

A seven-course meal costs more than a three-course meal, more food, and especially more time from the chef which translates to a higher rate for your meal. If you get twice the food, you’ll have to pay twice the cost.   

Specialty menus:

Large groups with a lot of dietary restrictions will require more time, therefore, some chefs will charge more to accommodate the requests. 

Groceries costs: High-quality or specialty or rare ingredients will have a direct impact on the cost of your meal. Caviar and champagne are delightful and obviously will impact the cost charged by the chef. 

Location of the chefs:

If a Personal Chef needs to travel a long distance to come and cook for your party, you should be expecting the cost of his traveling to be included in the final bill.

Cost Structure:

A single chef working independently will likely charge less than a catering company. Independent personal chefs are usually offering this type of service to monetize their free time and don’t have to carry the cost of staff and offices. Expect a better rate from personal chefs.

Experience of the chef:

Like any other specialist, a well-known chef, one that has worked in a Michelin Star restaurant, will command higher rates than a newcomer fresh out of culinary school. 

Competition:

To get the best rate for your dinner parties, it’s important to ask more than one chef what will be the cost of your meal. When chefs compete against each other, it usually brings the cost down.

chef setting a plate

Cost of a Private chef by location

The average cost for the service of a personal chef globally is averaging between $400 and $900 for a dinner of 8 adults. However, there are important variations in rates depending on the cities. Here is the average cost per city for our most popular location.

The average cost of a dinner for 8 adults per city (USD$).

guide of Personal Chef Cost for food service

be certain to discuss with the chef if plates, utensils, and glasses are included in the rate

vegan-meal

MiumMium's recommendations to reduce your cost:

  • Communicate with more than one chef. 
  • Read independent reviews from past clients when available. 
  • Never give more than a 50% deposit ahead. 
  • State from start the dietary restrictions and food allergies of your guests.  
  • Establish a directing line for your meal: A seafood feast or some steaks on the b.b.q? Then, let the chef present a menu.
  • Avoid all surprises by asking what is included in the personal chef cost.

Why should you hire a personal chef to cook for you?

Hiring a Private Chef is truly something unique. Having a chef to come and cook for you in the comfort of your home or when traveling abroad is all about the experience. It gives you the opportunity to share a special moment with your guests without having to spend time cooking or cleaning. You have nothing to worry about; the chef takes care of everything.

FAQ

  • How much do personal chefs cost? A Private Chef costs on average $ 55 per person, plus tips. This includes everything from grocery shopping, food, cooking, service, cleaning, and taxes.
  • How did we calculate the cost of a personal chef to an average of $55?We calculated the price of all the bookings made during the last year on the site and divided the sum by the number of clients we have served since day one.
  • What is the price difference between a Personal Chef and a Caterer at home?For an 8 guests dinner party, the price averages $506 with a Miummium chef and $1125 with a caterer. 
  • What factors impact the cost of a personal chef? Cost of living, number of servings, specialty menus, groceries, location, and chef experience are some of the elements that vary the cost of a private chef.

always ask the details of the price quoted

Cook preparing a salad
cook cutting a pomegranate
Personal Cook setting a plate
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