Can A Chef Afford Rent in Montrose, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.3% of gross income.

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

Montrose median rent
$1,595/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
29.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Montrose's median rent of $1,595 leaves roughly $41/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.7 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 Montrose, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Manassas Park, VA
$1,594/mo (29.2% of income)
Hampton, VA
$1,593/mo (29.2% of income)
Hampton, VA
$1,593/mo (29.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Montrose

View full rent data for Montrose, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Montrose, VA?

Median rent in Montrose is $1,595 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 29.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Montrose?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Montrose's current median rent is $1,595/mo, which leaves a $41/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 50.7 hours a month to cover Montrose's median rent of $1,595.

Where is rent cheaper than Montrose for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Manassas Park ($1,594/mo), Hampton ($1,593/mo), Hampton ($1,593/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 Montrose, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.