Personal Chef cost in 2019?

Find out the cost to bring a Private Chef into your home.

Updated October 18, 2019


You want to hire a Personal Chef?  

It will cost you on average $ USD 49.84 per person, plus tip.


Personal Chef Cost 2019 | 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 Montreal, Professional Chefs in Rome to Skilled Cooks in Cancun. Our policy is clear; the rates of our chefs must be fully transparent. 

The quote 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.

To get to $49.84 as the average cost for a personal chef, we calculated the price of all the reservations made on the site and divided the sum by the number of clients we have served since day one. The cheapest meals were priced between $20 and $30 p.p. and consisted of brunches (around 5% of our business) and light lunch. The maximum cost observed on 7-course meals served was in the largest US and European cities. 

On average we entertained 8.5 guests for a total cost of $423.64, and this is how we get to the national average cost of $49.84 per person for a meal prepared by a personal chef. 

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!

mushroom cooking

Why did you believe that hiring a Personal Chef is more expensive than $50 p.p.?

Simply because you mix up what is a Personal Chef with what is a Caterer. A Personal Chef is usually a cook, or a chef, who works in a restaurant and offers his 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 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 the 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, a caterer services will be pricier than a chef. 

Historically caterers were servicing 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 the 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:


The price difference between a Personal Chef and a Caterer




 MiumMium Chef

 Price p.p.: $50  x 8

 Cost for the Chef: Included

 Transportation: Included

 Taxes: Included

 Tip: 15% 





 Price p.p.: $48  x 8

 Cost for the Chef: $200 

 Transportation: $50 

 Taxes: 10%

 Tip: 15%


Caterers' prices are at least 50% more expensive than a Personal Chef. 


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. 

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 entering into an agreement.


What factors impact the cost of a personal chef?

- Cost of living: The price 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. Demand, taxes, proximity to distribution centers and other factors can all influence the price of the ingredient used for your meal. 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: A seven-course meal is much more expensive than a three-course meal, not only because it requires more ingredients and usually in larger quantities but also because the chef will need more than twice the time to prepare the feast.  The Chefs will take this into account and will adjust their bill accordingly. If you get twice the food, you’ll have to pay twice the cost.   

- Specialty menus: Large groups with a lot of dietary restrictions may require more time and effort for planning than those with none, so it normal that some chefs charge more to accommodate the multiple demands. Creating a diverse set of menus for a single meal with dietary restrictions and allergies may add hours to the work required to deliver the perfect dinner party.

- Groceries: High-quality or specialty or rare ingredients will have a direct impact on the cost of your meal. Caviar and champagne are delightful and sadly costly. If your party requires higher-end ingredients, such as farm to table organic food, you should expect to pay the chef more for the meal he is preparing for you. 

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

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

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

- Competition: To get the best ratio quality/price, it’s important to ask more than one chef for a quotation, a service where chefs compete against each other create an environment that forces the participants to offer the best value for your money if they want to win your contract.

Discover what would be your personal chef cost in your town.


in generalCaterers prices are at least 50% more expensive than a true Personal Chef

Personal Chef Cost Miami

What should be included in the price?

When hiring a Chef to come and cook a dinner party in your home, the quote you received should always include:

  1. Transportation cost.

  2. Shopping time and cost of the ingredients.

  3. “In your home” cooking.

  4. Service.

  5. Cleaning.

  6. Taxes.

  7. Be certain to discuss with the chef if plates, utensils, and glasses are included. Usually, they are not, however, the chef will show up with his knives, pans and cutting board.

  8. The tip should not be included in the price and should be left at the discretion of the client. On average, when pleased with the experience, a tip of 15% shows your appreciation for the chef's work.

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


MiumMium's recommendations:

  1. Communicate with more than one chef.

  2. Read independent reviews from past clients when available.

  3. Never give more than a 50% deposit ahead.

  4. State from start the dietary restrictions and food allergies of your guests. The chef will design his menu around it.

  5. Establish a directing line for your meal, are you looking for local flavors? A seafood feast or some steaks on the b.b.q? Then, let the chef present a menu.

  6. Avoid all surprises by asking what is included in the price in writing.

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 can learn a few cooking techniques or ask for a full-blown cooking class while having a glass of wine with your friends and the best: you have nothing to worry about; the chef takes care of everything.

always ask the details of the price quoted


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