Can A Chef Afford Rent in Chesterfield, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39% of gross income.

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

Chesterfield median rent
$2,124/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
39%
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 $2,124 exceeds that threshold by $488/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 67.5 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:

Belle Haven, VA
$2,123/mo (38.9% of income)
Lincolnia, VA
$2,121/mo (38.9% of income)
Belle Haven, VA
$2,118/mo (38.8% 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 $2,124 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 39% 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 $2,124/mo, which is $488/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 67.5 hours a month to cover Chesterfield's median rent of $2,124.

Where is rent cheaper than Chesterfield for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Belle Haven ($2,123/mo), Lincolnia ($2,121/mo), Belle Haven ($2,118/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.