Can A Chef Afford Rent in Ashburn, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.4% of gross income.

Ashburn rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Ashburn median rent
$3,075/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
56.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Ashburn's median rent of $3,075 exceeds that threshold by $1,439/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 97.7 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Virginia cities have lower median rent than Ashburn, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Vienna, VA
$3,074/mo (56.4% of income)
Vienna, VA
$3,072/mo (56.3% of income)
Vienna, VA
$3,047/mo (55.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Ashburn

View full rent data for Ashburn, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Ashburn, VA?

Median rent in Ashburn is $3,075 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 56.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Ashburn?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Ashburn's current median rent is $3,075/mo, which is $1,439/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Ashburn?

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 97.7 hours a month to cover Ashburn's median rent of $3,075.

Where is rent cheaper than Ashburn for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Vienna ($3,074/mo), Vienna ($3,072/mo), Vienna ($3,047/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Virginia state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Ashburn, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.