Can A Chef Afford Rent in Petersburg, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.2% of gross income.

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

Petersburg median rent
$1,373/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
25.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Petersburg's median rent of $1,373 leaves roughly $263/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 43.6 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 Petersburg, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Bristol, VA
$1,372/mo (25.2% of income)
Hopewell, VA
$1,371/mo (25.1% of income)
Chesapeake, VA
$1,368/mo (25.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Petersburg

View full rent data for Petersburg, VA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Petersburg, VA?

Median rent in Petersburg is $1,373 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 25.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Petersburg?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Petersburg's current median rent is $1,373/mo, which leaves a $263/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 43.6 hours a month to cover Petersburg's median rent of $1,373.

Where is rent cheaper than Petersburg for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Bristol ($1,372/mo), Hopewell ($1,371/mo), Chesapeake ($1,368/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 Petersburg, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.