Can A Chef Afford Rent in Great Falls, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 94.8% of gross income.

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

Great Falls median rent
$5,167/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
94.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Great Falls's median rent of $5,167 exceeds that threshold by $3,531/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 164.2 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 Great Falls, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Fort Hunt, VA
$4,549/mo (83.4% of income)
Fort Hunt, VA
$4,375/mo (80.2% of income)
Fort Hunt, VA
$4,100/mo (75.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Great Falls

View full rent data for Great Falls, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Great Falls, VA?

Median rent in Great Falls is $5,167 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 94.8% 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 Great Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Great Falls's current median rent is $5,167/mo, which is $3,531/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 164.2 hours a month to cover Great Falls's median rent of $5,167.

Where is rent cheaper than Great Falls for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Fort Hunt ($4,549/mo), Fort Hunt ($4,375/mo), Fort Hunt ($4,100/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 Great Falls, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.