Can A Chef Afford Rent in Glen Allen, VA?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 38.5% of gross income.

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

Glen Allen median rent
$2,098/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
38.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Glen Allen's median rent of $2,098 exceeds that threshold by $462/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 66.7 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 Glen Allen, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Mechanicsville, VA
$2,096/mo (38.4% of income)
Mechanicsville, VA
$2,095/mo (38.4% of income)
Yorktown, VA
$2,095/mo (38.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Glen Allen

View full rent data for Glen Allen, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Glen Allen, VA?

Median rent in Glen Allen is $2,098 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 38.5% 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 Glen Allen?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Glen Allen's current median rent is $2,098/mo, which is $462/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 66.7 hours a month to cover Glen Allen's median rent of $2,098.

Where is rent cheaper than Glen Allen for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Mechanicsville ($2,096/mo), Mechanicsville ($2,095/mo), Yorktown ($2,095/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 Glen Allen, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.