Can A Chef Afford Rent in Bellwood, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.4% of gross income.

Bellwood rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Bellwood median rent
$1,658/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
30.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Bellwood's median rent of $1,658 exceeds that threshold by $22/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 52.7 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 Bellwood, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Montrose, VA
$1,655/mo (30.4% of income)
Norfolk, VA
$1,654/mo (30.3% of income)
Henrico, VA
$1,649/mo (30.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bellwood

View full rent data for Bellwood, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Bellwood, VA?

Median rent in Bellwood is $1,658 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 30.4% 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 Bellwood?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Bellwood's current median rent is $1,658/mo, which is $22/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 52.7 hours a month to cover Bellwood's median rent of $1,658.

Where is rent cheaper than Bellwood for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Montrose ($1,655/mo), Norfolk ($1,654/mo), Henrico ($1,649/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 Bellwood, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.