Can A Chef Afford Rent in Chesterfield, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 42% of gross income.

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

Chesterfield median rent
$2,289/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
42%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Chesterfield's median rent of $2,289 exceeds that threshold by $653/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 72.8 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 Chesterfield, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Mount Vernon, VA
$2,288/mo (42% of income)
Leesburg, VA
$2,286/mo (41.9% of income)
Leesburg, VA
$2,285/mo (41.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chesterfield

View full rent data for Chesterfield, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Chesterfield, VA?

Median rent in Chesterfield is $2,289 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 42% 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 Chesterfield?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Chesterfield's current median rent is $2,289/mo, which is $653/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 72.8 hours a month to cover Chesterfield's median rent of $2,289.

Where is rent cheaper than Chesterfield for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Mount Vernon ($2,288/mo), Leesburg ($2,286/mo), Leesburg ($2,285/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 Chesterfield, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.