Chen's father was a patrolman for the Forestry Bureau workstation after retrocession, while her mother ran a teahouse and grocery store. Then in the 1960s, when Chen was in junior high, they moved into the tourism industry, running a motel and restaurant.
陳月霞的父親在光復後的林務局工作站當巡山員，母親則經營柑仔店（雜貨店）和茶室，直到 1960 年代陳月霞念國中時，家裡改為經營旅館和餐廳，開始走觀光路線。