Can A Chef Afford Rent in Hopewell, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26% of gross income.

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

Hopewell median rent
$1,419/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
26%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Hopewell's median rent of $1,419 leaves roughly $217/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 45.1 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 Hopewell, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Farmville, VA
$1,417/mo (26% of income)
Staunton, VA
$1,416/mo (26% of income)
Bristol, VA
$1,414/mo (25.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Hopewell

View full rent data for Hopewell, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Hopewell, VA?

Median rent in Hopewell is $1,419 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 26% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Hopewell?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Hopewell's current median rent is $1,419/mo, which leaves a $217/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 45.1 hours a month to cover Hopewell's median rent of $1,419.

Where is rent cheaper than Hopewell for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Farmville ($1,417/mo), Staunton ($1,416/mo), Bristol ($1,414/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 Hopewell, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.