Can A Chef Afford Rent in Colonial Heights, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.7% of gross income.

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

Colonial Heights median rent
$1,565/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
28.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Colonial Heights's median rent of $1,565 leaves roughly $71/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 49.7 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 Colonial Heights, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Hampton, VA
$1,564/mo (28.7% of income)
Montrose, VA
$1,561/mo (28.6% of income)
Richmond, VA
$1,561/mo (28.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Colonial Heights

View full rent data for Colonial Heights, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Colonial Heights, VA?

Median rent in Colonial Heights is $1,565 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 28.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Colonial Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Colonial Heights's current median rent is $1,565/mo, which leaves a $71/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 49.7 hours a month to cover Colonial Heights's median rent of $1,565.

Where is rent cheaper than Colonial Heights for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Hampton ($1,564/mo), Montrose ($1,561/mo), Richmond ($1,561/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 Colonial Heights, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.