Can A Chef Afford Rent in Staunton, VA?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27% of gross income.
Staunton rent: September 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 Staunton, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Staunton
View full rent data for Staunton, VA →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Staunton, VA?
Median rent in Staunton is $1,473 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 27% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Staunton?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Staunton's current median rent is $1,473/mo, which leaves a $163/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Staunton?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 46.8 hours a month to cover Staunton's median rent of $1,473.
Where is rent cheaper than Staunton for a chef?
Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Forest ($1,471/mo), Chesapeake ($1,470/mo), Christiansburg ($1,469/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.