Can A Chef Afford Rent in Martinsville, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.6% of gross income.

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

Martinsville median rent
$907/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
16.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Martinsville's median rent of $907 leaves roughly $729/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 28.8 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 Martinsville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Roanoke, VA
$880/mo (16.1% of income)
Lynchburg, VA
$848/mo (15.6% of income)
Petersburg, VA
$830/mo (15.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Martinsville

View full rent data for Martinsville, VA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Martinsville, VA?

Median rent in Martinsville is $907 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 16.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Martinsville?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Martinsville's current median rent is $907/mo, which leaves a $729/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 28.8 hours a month to cover Martinsville's median rent of $907.

Where is rent cheaper than Martinsville for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Roanoke ($880/mo), Lynchburg ($848/mo), Petersburg ($830/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 Martinsville, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.