Can A Chef Afford Rent in Fredericksburg, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.8% of gross income.

Fredericksburg rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Fredericksburg median rent
$2,061/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
37.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Fredericksburg's median rent of $2,061 exceeds that threshold by $425/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 65.5 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 Fredericksburg, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Manassas, VA
$2,060/mo (37.8% of income)
Belle Haven, VA
$2,059/mo (37.8% of income)
Williamsburg, VA
$2,059/mo (37.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Fredericksburg

View full rent data for Fredericksburg, VA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Fredericksburg, VA?

Median rent in Fredericksburg is $2,061 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 37.8% 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 Fredericksburg?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Fredericksburg's current median rent is $2,061/mo, which is $425/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 65.5 hours a month to cover Fredericksburg's median rent of $2,061.

Where is rent cheaper than Fredericksburg for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Manassas ($2,060/mo), Belle Haven ($2,059/mo), Williamsburg ($2,059/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 Fredericksburg, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.