How Much Does a Personal Chef Cost in Los Angeles or San Diego? A Real Cost Comparison

Personal Chef

How Much Does a Personal Chef Cost in San Diego or Los Angeles?

Posted by Sharon K on 18-Feb-2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about hiring a personal chef is that it’s only for the wealthy. In reality, when you compare time, effort, stress, and total spend, a personal chef can often be more practical—and sometimes even more cost-effective—than dining out or cooking yourself, especially for small groups.

Let’s break it down with a real-world example for 6 guests and compare three options:

Dining at a luxury restaurant
Cooking the same meal at home
Hiring a personal chef through Platesfull

Option 1: Dining at a Luxury Restaurant (6 Guests)

Assume each guest orders a 3-course meal: salad or soup, entrée, and dessert at an upscale American restaurant in San Diego or Los Angeles.

Typical Fine-Dining Prices (Per Person)

Salad / Soup: $15–$30+
Entrée: $40–$90+
Dessert: $12–$25+

👉 Total per person: $95–$145
👉 Total for 6 guests: $684–$1,044
(before tax & tip)

Add:

Sales tax
20%+ gratuity
Alcohol markup (often 2–3x retail price)

Final reality: You’re easily crossing $800–$1,200+, sitting in a noisy space, rushing conversations, and paying for every extra drink.

Option 2: Cooking the Same Meal at Home (6 Guests)

🥗 Salad (Starter)

Example: Burrata or mixed greens with nuts, seasonal fruit & vinaigrette

Grocery Cost

Greens: $6–8
Burrata / cheese: $10–14
Nuts & toppings: $5–7
Dressing ingredients: $4–6

Total: $25–35
Time: 30–40 minutes (shopping + prep)

Entrée (Main Course)

Option A: Chicken or Salmon (Most Common)

Protein: $45–60
Sides (vegetables, starch): $15–20
Herbs, butter, sauces: $5–8

Total: $65–85

Option B: Steak (Luxury)

Steak (ribeye / NY strip): $90–120
Sides & sauces: $20

Total: $110–140

Cooking Time: 1.5–2 hours

Dessert

Example: Chocolate mousse, panna cotta, or baked dessert

Ingredients: $18–25
⏱️ Prep & bake/chill: 30–45 minutes
⏱️ Cleanup: 10–15 minutes

Total Grocery Cost (6 Guests)

Meal Type	Cost
Salad	$25–35
Entrée (non-steak)	$65–85
Dessert	$18–25
Total	$110–145
With steak	$155–195

Per person grocery cost:

$18–24 (chicken/salmon)
$26–32 (steak)

⏱️ Total Time You Spend Cooking

Task	Time
Planning	15–20 min
Grocery shopping	45–75 min
Cooking & prep	2.5–3.5 hrs
Cleanup	45–60 min
Total Time	4.5–6 hours

And this assumes:

No mistakes
No last-minute store runs
No hosting stress while cooking

Option 3: Hiring a Personal Chef (Platesfull)

With a personal chef, you choose your budget, cuisine, ingredients, and serving style (plated or family-style). Your chef handles:

✅ Menu creation
✅ Grocery shopping
✅ Cooking & plating
✅ Serving
✅ Full kitchen cleanup

Additional benefits:

No tipping on Platesfull (saving 20%+)
Bring your own wine (no restaurant markup)
Relax in your own home—music, conversations, games, backyard time

💵 Personal Chef Cost (San Diego or Los Angeles)

$75–$125 per person (plus tax)
Total for 6 guests: $450–$750

💡 Often less than dining out, and dramatically more relaxing.

📊 Cost & Experience Comparison (6 Guests)

Option	Total Cost	Time Spent	Stress Level	Experience
Luxury Restaurant	$800–$1,200+	2–3 hrs	Medium	Loud, rushed
Cook Yourself	$110–$195	4.5–6 hrs	High	Exhausting
Personal Chef	$450–$750	0 hrs	Low	Private & luxurious

Is Hiring a Personal Chef Worth It?

If you value:

Your time
A relaxed, intimate experience
Restaurant-quality food at home

Then hiring a personal chef in San Diego or Los Angeles isn’t a luxury — it’s a smart upgrade.

👉 Get a free quote on Platesfull and compare for yourself - https://www.platesfull.com/our-chefs

Check out some of our chefs - Chef Wu | Profile | Platesfull, Chef Kalifa | Profile | Platesfull