How much does a personal chef cost in Australia?

If you are unable to rely on your own culinary skills or spare the time to prepare a meal, a personal chef may be the solution to your problem; you can hire one to cook your day-to-day food or even whip up a three-course meal for a small gathering. But how much does a personal chef cost?

This article can give you an idea of the average personal chef rates in your area based on various factors, such as food industry experience, meal complexity, and service duration.

What are the average costs of personal chefs in Australia?

How much would a personal chef cost in your area? The table below shows the average personal chef prices per hour in major cities across Australia.

What factors affect the costs of personal chefs?

The cost of hiring a personal chef hinges on various factors, such as your chef’s experience, the complexity of your chosen menu, and your meal’s ingredients.

Chef experience, expertise, and reputation

Like professionals in other fields, personal chefs can charge for a service based on the following:

• Years of experience: Those working as personal chefs for much longer typically cost more than newbie chefs.

• Expertise: Expect to pay more if you are hiring someone who is highly trained in various cooking or baking techniques and meal prep methods as opposed to someone whose culinary expertise is limited.

• Reputation: Personal chefs known for being good at what they do and those with glowing customer reviews can leverage their reputation to charge more for their services.

Meal or menu complexity

A personal chef carefully removing a baked chicken from a hot oven (Source: iStock)

It would cost more to hire a professional chef if you want them to prepare complicated gourmet meals instead of a straightforward dish. Asking them to customise it based on your dietary restrictions and food preferences can also add to the final cost. Additionally, a varied menu (e.g., a five-course meal with Italian pasta, Mexican dishes, and Japanese food) will likely be priced higher than one that follows a singular theme.

Ingredients

If you are picky about food ingredients—like when you want higher-quality condiments or produce that is not in season—the average cost for a personal chef will probably increase, especially if part of their service involves buying your meal’s ingredients.

Meal, serving, and guest number

Preparing a meal—especially if it’s more than just one course—entails more effort and resources if there is a considerable number of people to feed. This is because managing to cook for several guests may involve hiring additional staff, using commercial equipment apt for a bigger quantity of food, and having a longer prep time and table setup.

Service duration or frequency

A man writing on a sticky note attached to a refrigerator (Source: iStock)

Relative to service frequency, a personal chef’s price per month and the cost of a personal chef per year are usually lower than how much you will shell out for a one-time event. This is because having a personal chef on retainer can lead to discounted rates.

Location

A woman carrying grocery bags, standing near the open trunk of a car (Source: iStock)

How much is a personal chef based on your location? The farther you are from your personal chef’s home base, the higher their rate will be since transportation costs and travel time will be considered. Moreover, the cost of living in your area can also affect how much they will charge you.

Additional services

How much does it cost for a personal chef to perform additional services? Typically, you will be looking at steeper costs if you want menu or meal planning, grocery shopping, and post-meal cleanup to be included. Having certain dietary restrictions (e.g., gluten-free, vegan) may also incur an extra fee.

What are some ways to save on personal chef services?

A few measures that you can incorporate to lower the price of personal chef services include:

• Being upfront regarding your budget;

• Not immediately settling for the first personal chef you find;

• Hiring someone near you to save on transportation cost;

• Buying the cooking ingredients yourself; and

• Asking your personal chef to use your own equipment and tools (unless these won’t suffice or are not suitable for the type and quantity of your meals).

You can also level up your cooking skills so you’d only need to hire a personal chef occasionally.

What should you look for in a personal chef?

When searching for the right personal chef, you should make sure that:

• They are skilled in meal prep and cooking styles that are in line with your taste. 

• They are well-versed when it comes to proper nutrition and other dietary-related knowledge (e.g., how to deal with food allergies).

• The cost of their services falls within your expected budget.

• Their schedule fits yours.

• Past customers can vouch for their excellent service.

• They are responsive and communicating with them is not a problem.

• They have all the required licences and permits to operate.

Level up your home-cooked meals with Airtasker

A personal chef presenting a ready-to-serve hotpot meal (Source: iStock)

Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering at home or looking for someone to make dishes for you regularly, Airtasker can help you find a personal chef who can accommodate your food-related requests.

The process to find one couldn’t be simpler. First, create an account on the platform and post a task that details the service you need, your budget, and your dietary needs. Then, wait for Taskers to respond and pick one who can fulfil your needs best.

Thinking of having a bigger food-filled celebration instead? You can also find caterers on the platform to help you.