The rate included:
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!
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:
$700
Chef Price p.p.: $76 x 8 Cost for the Chef: IncludedTransportation: IncludedTaxes: IncludedTip: 15%
$1400
Caterer Price p.p.: $100 x 8 Cost for the Chef: $200 Transportation: $50 Taxes: 15% Tip: 15%
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.
What factors impact the cost of a personal chef?
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.
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.
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.
Cost of a Personal Chef Boston |
Rate: $710 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Cancun |
Rate: $520 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Chicago |
Rate: $720 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Houston |
Rate: $760 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Lisbon |
Rate: $650 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Los Angeles |
Rate: $880 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Mexico City |
Rate: $550 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Miami |
Rate: $790 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Milan |
Rate: $910 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Montreal |
Rate: $630 |
Cost of a Personal Chef New York |
Rate: $900 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Paris |
Rate: $960 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Philadelphia |
Rate: $790 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Phoenix |
Rate: $720 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Rome |
Rate: $920 |
Cost of a Personal Chef San Antonio |
Rate: $690 |
Cost of a Personal Chef San Diego |
Rate: $790 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Sydney |
Rate: $720 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Toronto |
Rate: $730 |
Cost of a Personal Chef Vancouver |
Rate: $770 |
…be certain to discuss with the chef if plates, utensils, and glasses are included in the rate…
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.
…always ask the details of the price quoted…