Can A Chef Afford Rent in Roanoke, VA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.6% of gross income.
Roanoke rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).
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 Roanoke, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Roanoke
View full rent data for Roanoke, VA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Roanoke, VA?
Median rent in Roanoke is $1,394 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 25.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Roanoke?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Roanoke's current median rent is $1,394/mo, which leaves a $242/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Roanoke?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 44.3 hours a month to cover Roanoke's median rent of $1,394.
Where is rent cheaper than Roanoke for a chef?
Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Waynesboro ($1,392/mo), Salem ($1,392/mo), Bristol ($1,390/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.