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Pricing Guide
How Much Does a Private Chef Cost?
A private chef with MileHighCook typically runs $150 to $250 per person, all-inclusive. Custom menu, all groceries, cooking, tableside service, and cleanup in a single number. Where you land comes down to guest count, menu complexity, and service level. Here's exactly how the pricing works.
If you're still weighing whether to book a chef or a caterer, our private chef vs. catering breakdown covers cost, guest count, and the right fit for each format.
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The Short Answer
What a Private Chef Costs Per Person
Most MileHighCook private chef experiences land between $150 and $250 per person, fully all-inclusive. Where you fall in that range comes down to your menu and service level — here's what that looks like for a typical evening.
Per guest, all-inclusive$150–250
Intimate dinner, 2 guests$300–500
Dinner party, 6 guests$900–1,500
Celebration dinner, 10 guests$1,500–2,500
Larger gathering, 20 guests$3,000–5,000
That single number covers custom menu design, all groceries, the chef's fee and labor, in-home cooking, tableside service, and full cleanup. The only thing we suggest on top is a 20% gratuity. Multi-day and full-week engagements — a private chef for a ski-week rental in Vail or Park City, for instance — are quoted at the same per-person rate per meal. An event minimum applies; ask us for your market's.
Comparing Quotes
Why Private Chef Prices Look So Different Online
Private chefs quote in three different ways, so two numbers that look far apart can land close together. Compare the total for your night, not the headline rate.
Per person, groceries included (how we quote)
$150 to $250 per guest. Menu, groceries, cooking, service and cleanup in one number.
Per person, groceries billed separately
A lower per guest number, with the grocery bill added after the shop. Ask for the grocery estimate before you compare.
By the hour
Usually meal prep, not dinner parties. Our meal prep is $75 an hour: $450 for the first week, then 24-hour blocks at $1,800.
Whatever the format, ask two things before you compare: are groceries included, and is service staff included. With us, both are in the number.
Watch
What a private chef actually costs
Chef Steve Ingber answers the cost question in ten minutes. What the number covers, what moves it, and what a full-time private chef runs.
What's Actually Included
All-Inclusive Means Everything
The most important thing to understand about MileHighCook pricing: every proposal covers everything. There are no line items added after the fact.
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All Groceries & Sourcing
We shop for everything. Premium, seasonal ingredients — all costs are factored into your all-inclusive proposal.
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Chef Fee & Labor
Every menu reviewed by CIA-trained Chef Steve Ingber. The chef arrives 2.5–3 hours before your first guest. Fully staffed.
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Full In-Home Cooking
Every course prepared and plated in your kitchen or venue. Restaurant-level execution in your space.
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Tableside Service
Courses plated and presented with care. Professionally attired service staff scaled to your group size.
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Complete Cleanup
We leave your kitchen spotless. No dishes, no mess. Nothing left behind except the memory of a great meal.
What Affects the Price
The Four Factors That Shape Your Quote
Every MileHighCook proposal is custom — here are the four variables that move the number.
01
Guest Count
The most direct driver of cost. More guests means more ingredients, more prep time, and often additional service staff. Groups of 2–4 have a different cost structure than groups of 20–40. For very large events (50+), we move into catering territory with a different pricing model.
02
Menu Complexity
A 3-course seasonal dinner is a fundamentally different undertaking than a 7-course tasting menu with wine pairings and tableside preparations. More courses, more premium ingredients, and more complex technique mean higher investment — and a meaningfully different experience.
03
Service Level
An intimate family-style dinner for 6 requires one chef. A plated dinner for 30 with a full service team, bar service, and sommelier is a different operation. We scale the team to the event — and your proposal reflects exactly what yours requires.
04
Market & Timing
Peak season in Aspen during Food & Wine Classic or ski week in Vail around New Year's has higher demand. Timing and market can affect availability and occasionally price. Book early for peak dates.
Cost Over Time
Private Chef Cost by the Day, Month, and Year
"How much is a private chef?" means something different depending on whether you're planning one evening, a standing weekly dinner, or wondering what full-time help would run. Here's how the same all-inclusive rate plays out over time.
Full day, multiple meals$150–250/person, per meal
One dinner a week, family of 4$600–1,000 per evening
A month of weekly dinners, family of 4$2,400–4,000
Vacation-rental week, nightly dinners for 6From ~$6,000
Full-time household chef (industry, not us)$70,000–120,000+/year
When people ask what a private chef costs for a year, they usually mean one of two things. The first is a full-time household chef — a salaried employee who typically runs $70,000–120,000 or more per year before groceries, benefits, and payroll. The second is what most families actually want: a standing arrangement where a professional chef cooks for them on a regular schedule. That's what we do. A family of four having one chef-prepared dinner a week invests roughly $2,400–4,000 a month — about $31,000–52,000 over a full year, still well under half the cost of a salaried chef, with no payroll and no commitment beyond the meals you book.
By the day, everything is quoted at the same $150–250 per-person rate per meal. For full-day service — breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a vacation home, for instance — we build the day around your actual meals rather than a flat fee, so a lighter breakfast never costs what a plated dinner does.
If weekly meal prep is what you're after — a chef shopping, cooking, and portioning several days of meals in your kitchen in a single visit — that's its own service with its own pricing, quoted per household. See our personal chef meal prep service for how it works; your menu comes back within 24 hours.
Worth the Investment?
Private Chef vs. Restaurant: The Real Comparison
Cost is one factor, but it's worth weighing alongside the experience itself — see why a private chef is worth the investment for the full picture on what you're actually paying for vs. comparable dining experiences.
When people see a private chef quote, they compare it to a restaurant check. That's not the right comparison. Here's what a restaurant dinner for 6 actually costs — and what you get.
Restaurant Dinner for 6
Food (entrées + apps)$400–600
Wine & drinks markup$200–400
Tax & gratuity (20%+)$120–200
Parking, Ubers, childcare$50–100
Total$770–1,300+
Generic menu. Shared space. Rushed service. No customization.
MileHighCook for 6 Guests
Custom menu designIncluded
All groceries & ingredientsIncluded
Chef fee & serviceIncluded
Complete cleanupIncluded
One number, no surprisesCustom quote
Built for your table. In your space. No reservation, no wait.
Pricing Questions
What People Ask Before They Book
Do you charge travel fees?
No. MileHighCook has chefs stationed across all 30+ markets — Vail, Aspen, Scottsdale, Park City, Jackson Hole, and more. There are no travel line items because there is no travel. We're already in your market.
Is there a minimum?
Yes. Every engagement has an event minimum. Contact us for the current minimum for your market and event type. We work with everything from intimate dinners for two up to 150+ guest estate events.
Do I pay for groceries separately?
No. Groceries and ingredient costs are fully included in your all-inclusive proposal. You receive one number — that's the number you pay. We suggest a 20% gratuity, but nothing else is added.
How do I get an accurate quote?
Contact us with your date, location, guest count, occasion, and any dietary requirements. We respond within hours and have a fully custom all-inclusive proposal back within 24 hours of your call.
Can I see sample menus before requesting a quote?
Yes. Browse our sample menus to get a sense of the style, range, and quality of what we prepare. Every actual menu is built from scratch for your event.
How much does a private chef cost per person?
Most MileHighCook private chef experiences run $150–250 per person, all-inclusive. That single number covers menu design, groceries, cooking, tableside service, and cleanup — with only a suggested 20% gratuity on top.
How much does a private chef cost in Denver?
Denver runs the same $150–250 per person, all-inclusive — whether you're hosting in Wash Park, Cherry Creek, or out by the Tech Center. A dinner party of six typically lands between $900 and $1,500, and there are never travel fees inside the metro. See private chef services in Denver for menus and availability.
How much is a private chef for a dinner party?
For a party of six, most evenings land between $900 and $1,500; a group of ten runs roughly $1,500–2,500. The per-guest rate holds as your group grows. Events over 50 guests move into our catering model.
How much is a private chef for two people, or just one?
An intimate dinner for two typically runs $300–500 all-inclusive. We build the same experience for a couple as for a full table — the menu is simply scaled to you.
What does a private chef cost for a week in a vacation rental?
Multi-day and full-week engagements — a private chef for a ski week in Vail or Park City, say — are quoted at the same per-person rate per meal. A week of nightly dinners for a family of six generally starts around $6,000 and scales with your menus and any added meals.
Is a private chef cheaper than a restaurant?
It's often comparable — and you get far more. A restaurant dinner for six with wine, tax, gratuity, and the drive out runs $770–1,300+ for a generic menu and a rushed table. A private chef brings a custom menu to your space for one all-inclusive number, no reservation and no wait.
Do you tip a private chef?
A 20% gratuity is customary and appreciated, but it's never required or automatically added. Everything else is already included in your all-inclusive number.
How much does a private chef cost for a year?
A full-time, salaried household chef typically costs $70,000–120,000+ per year before groceries, benefits, and payroll. Most families asking this actually want standing weekly service — a family of four with one chef-prepared dinner a week invests roughly $2,400–4,000 a month, about $31,000–52,000 a year, at our all-inclusive per-person rate. No payroll, and you can pause anytime.
How much is a private chef per month?
A standing weekly dinner for a family of four runs roughly $2,400–4,000 a month at the $150–250 per-person all-inclusive rate. More meals per week, or more people at the table, scale at the same per-meal rate.
How much does a private chef cost per day?
Day rates are built from the same $150–250 per person, per meal. A full day of service — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — is quoted around your actual menu, so lighter meals cost less than a plated dinner.
How much does private chef meal prep cost?
Meal prep is its own service — one weekly visit where the chef shops, cooks, and portions several days of meals in your kitchen — and it's quoted per household, all-inclusive. Request a menu through our meal prep service and you'll have it within 24 hours.
Is hiring a private chef worth it?
For a special occasion, or a group that would rather be present than cooking and cleaning, most clients find it's the best value at the table — restaurant-caliber food, built around your preferences, in your own space. See why a private chef is worth it for the full picture.
Ready to Get Your Actual Quote?
Tell us your date, location, guest count, and occasion. We respond within hours and have a fully custom all-inclusive proposal back within 24 hours.