Can A Chef Afford Rent in Waynesboro, VA?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.4% of gross income.

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

Waynesboro median rent
$1,602/mo
Chef salary (Virginia)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
29.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Waynesboro's median rent of $1,602 leaves roughly $34/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.9 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 Waynesboro, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

East Highland Park, VA
$1,599/mo (29.3% of income)
Highland Springs, VA
$1,598/mo (29.3% of income)
Newport News, VA
$1,596/mo (29.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Waynesboro

View full rent data for Waynesboro, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Waynesboro, VA?

Median rent in Waynesboro is $1,602 a month. A typical chef in Virginia earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 29.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Waynesboro?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Virginia (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Waynesboro's current median rent is $1,602/mo, which leaves a $34/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Virginia works roughly 50.9 hours a month to cover Waynesboro's median rent of $1,602.

Where is rent cheaper than Waynesboro for a chef?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include East Highland Park ($1,599/mo), Highland Springs ($1,598/mo), Newport News ($1,596/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 Waynesboro, VA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.