Can A Chef Afford Rent in Mount Vernon, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.9% of gross income.

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

Mount Vernon median rent
$2,775/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
50.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Mount Vernon's median rent of $2,775 exceeds that threshold by $1,139/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 88.2 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 Mount Vernon, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Ashburn, VA
$2,772/mo (50.8% of income)
Springfield, VA
$2,770/mo (50.8% of income)
McLean, VA
$2,769/mo (50.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Mount Vernon

View full rent data for Mount Vernon, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Mount Vernon, VA?

Median rent in Mount Vernon is $2,775 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 50.9% 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 Mount Vernon?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Mount Vernon's current median rent is $2,775/mo, which is $1,139/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 88.2 hours a month to cover Mount Vernon's median rent of $2,775.

Where is rent cheaper than Mount Vernon for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Ashburn ($2,772/mo), Springfield ($2,770/mo), McLean ($2,769/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 Mount Vernon, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.