How much does a private chef really cost?
Real prices from thousands of Take a Chef dinners around the world — not a vague range. Pick where you’re hosting, the style you want and your headcount, and see the price instantly.
One choice moves the price more than any other: the style
Every Take a Chef menu is built to one of three levels. Same chef in your kitchen — what changes is the ingredients, the number of courses and how elaborate the plating gets. Prices for each level, in your market, are shown live in the calculator above.
Price per guest, by country
Median price per person in local currency, across our main markets. The lighter figure shows where most bookings actually land (the middle 50%).
| Country | Casual | Gourmet | Exclusive |
|---|
What a chef costs in our most-requested cities
From Manhattan to Mallorca — the gourmet price per guest in the destinations our guests ask for most, each in its local currency.
| City | Country | Gourmet · per guest |
|---|
Sushi, hibachi, a dinner party — what each runs
Some experiences get asked for by name. Here’s the typical U.S. price per guest for the most-requested ones — tap through to meet chefs who specialize in each.
U.S. averages · prices vary by market — use the calculator for yours. Browse all chef experiences →
When you dine changes what you pay
Prices hold steady through most of the year — with one exception: the marquee nights. Here’s how the calendar moves both demand and price.
Typical price per guest, by month
Index · 100 = year average · winter dinners run richer
Prices peak in winter (Dec–Feb) and dip in mid-summer. Busiest months to book: May–August and December — reserve early for those.
The priciest nights of the year
U.S. median per guest vs a normal night ($167)
| Occasion | Per guest | vs normal |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Eve | $250 | +50% |
| New Year’s Eve | $245 | +47% |
| Christmas Day | $231 | +38% |
| New Year’s Day | $213 | +28% |
| Valentine’s Day | $210 | +26% |
| Mother’s Day | $185 | +11% |
| Thanksgiving | $182 | +9% |
| Independence Day | $178 | +7% |
| Halloween | $175 | +5% |
| Easter Sunday | $173 | +4% |
Marquee nights carry a premium — special multi-course menus, premium ingredients and high demand. Valentine’s is the single most-booked date of the year.
By day of the week: Saturday is the #1 night by a wide margin, with Friday close behind. Midweek dinners are quieter — and often a touch easier on the budget.
Special diets, same price
Gluten-free, vegetarian, allergies — your chef designs the menu around them from the start. It’s part of the service, not a surcharge. Just flag it when you book.
What a real dinner comes to
Three of the most common set-ups, priced at the U.S. median. Use the calculator above for your own country and headcount.
What shapes the final price
The estimate is a starting point. A handful of choices nudge your quote up or down — here’s what to keep in mind.
Casual, gourmet or exclusive — the single biggest lever, driven by ingredients and how many courses land on the table.
Bigger tables usually mean a friendlier price per head, since the chef’s fixed time is shared across more plates.
A beef tenderloin, fresh seafood or truffle costs more than a handmade pasta — the menu you pick sets the tone.
City-centre dinners are straightforward; remote villas or islands can add a small travel component.
Peak weekends and holidays are in demand — booking ahead keeps things flexible and well-priced.
Popular occasions
Cuisines our chefs cook
Pricing questions, answered
What’s included in the price per guest?
Is a tip included in the price?
Does the price change with the number of guests?
Do allergies or special diets cost extra?
Why a range instead of one fixed number?
How do I get an exact price for my dinner?
See your real menu & price
Estimates are a great start. For the exact number, let local chefs design a menu around your table — free, no obligation.
Get your free quote →
