Can A Chef Afford Rent in Haymarket, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 74.7% of gross income.

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

Haymarket median rent
$4,075/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
74.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Haymarket's median rent of $4,075 exceeds that threshold by $2,439/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 129.5 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 Haymarket, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Vienna, VA
$3,536/mo (64.8% of income)
Oakton, VA
$3,383/mo (62% of income)
Vienna, VA
$3,340/mo (61.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Haymarket

View full rent data for Haymarket, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Haymarket, VA?

Median rent in Haymarket is $4,075 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 74.7% 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 Haymarket?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Haymarket's current median rent is $4,075/mo, which is $2,439/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 129.5 hours a month to cover Haymarket's median rent of $4,075.

Where is rent cheaper than Haymarket for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Vienna ($3,536/mo), Oakton ($3,383/mo), Vienna ($3,340/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 Haymarket, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.