Can A Chef Afford Rent in Petersburg, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.5% of gross income.

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

Petersburg median rent
$1,337/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
24.5%
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 $1,337 leaves roughly $299/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 42.5 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:

Roanoke, VA
$1,334/mo (24.5% of income)
Waynesboro, VA
$1,333/mo (24.4% of income)
Waynesboro, VA
$1,332/mo (24.4% 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 $1,337 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 24.5% 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 $1,337/mo, which leaves a $299/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 42.5 hours a month to cover Petersburg's median rent of $1,337.

Where is rent cheaper than Petersburg for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Roanoke ($1,334/mo), Waynesboro ($1,333/mo), Waynesboro ($1,332/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.