Most people are busy. Add to that caring for a family, work and school commutes, and any additional commitments you take on, and you may feel a bit frustrated or overwhelmed navigating mealtime at the end of each day.

You aren't alone, and there's an answer: personal chef services.

If you just rolled your eyes or muttered, "Personal chefs are for rich and famous people with scads of money.", this article is for you.

Let's do the math, shall we?

While it's true, hiring a personal chef isn't cheap. It's also true that they are affordable.

Your time is valuable; we won't waste it here. Immediately below, you'll find a cost range for our personal chef services. If you want to chew on it some more, the rest of this post will outline some of the nitty-gritty of why personal chef services aren't cheap but are doable for most budgets.

Here at La Bonne Vie, the difference between our smallest and largest plan is only $100 per week. 

To give you more detail:

  • Our 5-day plans for four adults range from $250 to $350 per week. 

  • There is plenty for leftovers, 

  • and you can double the number of servings for just $25 per week.

Groceries are separate (we knew you'd ask), and they range from $45 to $300 per week (depending on the meals you request and whether you want 100% organic).

Are you tallying that math in your head right now? We get it. We were too.

While you're busy with the calculator, make a separate column to compare how much you spend in a typical week on:

  • Eating out at restaurants (which cost between $13 and $19/person, depending on where you live and your food selection).

  • Tips and parking

  • Fast-food drive-thrus

  • "Quick fix" grocery runs

  • Weekly grocery trip

  • Spoiled food in your fridge (because you didn't have time or were too tired to prepare it).


For a family of 4, that typical weekly expense (conservatively) looks a bit like this:

  • One “nicer” restaurant visit = $85

  • Three fast food trips = $125

  • Quick fix grocery runs = $75

  • Weekly grocery trip = $250

  • Spoiled food = $15


That comes to $550 per week.

Maybe your totals were less or maybe more. The purpose of this exercise is to get an accurate evaluation of what you're spending.

Once you have that data, also consider your time and stress with:

  • Meal planning and preparing a grocery list

  • Grocery shopping (and time on the road to and from)

  • Prepping, cooking, and cleaning up dishes

And this is why we can reiterate that personal chef services aren't cheap but are doable for most budgets.

In fact, we like to say that personal chefs aren't cheap because they're not cheap. 

Here are 5 factors that determine your personal chef's costs:

#1: Servings - This is pretty straightforward. If you order more, you pay more. It's no different than a restaurant. If you order an appetizer, entree, and a dessert for two, it costs more than if you order for one. There are more ingredients, more equipment needed, more kitchen staff, and more prepping and cooking time.

#2: Location - Where do you live? How expensive is it to live there? What does it cost you to fill your gas tank or drop in at the grocery store? Those exact costs apply to your personal chef's bottom line too.

#3: Years of Experience - Is your personal chef a newbie, or have they been at this for many years? Just as with any other position, more experience earns a higher price tag. It also means they have a more extensive database of recipes and more knowledge of navigating different allergies, food sensitivities, picky eaters, likes, and dislikes. An experienced personal chef will suggest ingredients and dishes you might not have considered. They also are versed in what is available and fresh from season to season at the market.  

#3: Kitchen Space & Delivery -  Since a personal chef will work from an owned or rented commercial kitchen space, their costs may vary depending on real estate costs and the proximity of grocery stores and markets for sourcing your ingredients. And because they deliver your food straight to your door, the kitchen's location to you plays a part too.

#4: Your Dietary Needs - Do you need a gluten-free diet? Are you Paleo, Keto, allergic to some particular ingredients? Your dietary restrictions play a part in your costs. The cost of buying gluten-free, vegan, organic, or locally sourced ingredients will drive up the bottom line. Again, personal chefs aren't cheap because they're not cheap. Quality food costs money.

#5. Food Storage - All of those cute and convenient containers your food arrives in? They cost money too. Some personal chefs will charge an onboarding fee that covers these costs. Whether it's reusable glass containers or recyclable BPA-free containers, they are part of the cost of your services.

Having a personal chef is a luxury, AND it's within your reach.

You're working and raising a family. 

Or maybe you're a single professional, working to advance your career or chase after some passions in your life.

Taking time to shop and prepare healthy options for you or you and a family has probably been put on the back burner too long.

And if not, we bet you put your self-care on the back burner. Keeping yourself and your family from always eating "on the go" is a considerable commitment of your time and energy.

Wherever you live, there are personal chef services near you that can help you meet your needs. We want to encourage you to reach out because your time and stress are not worth the trade-off.