Can A Chef Afford Rent in South Charleston, WV?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 23.9% of gross income.

South Charleston rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (West Virginia state estimate).

South Charleston median rent
$1,088/mo
Chef salary (West Virginia)
$54,528/yr
Rent as % of income
23.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,544, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,363/mo in rent. South Charleston's median rent of $1,088 leaves roughly $275/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 41.5 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 West Virginia cities have lower median rent than South Charleston, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Huntington, WV
$1,074/mo (23.6% of income)
Fairmont, WV
$1,072/mo (23.6% of income)
Huntington, WV
$1,067/mo (23.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for South Charleston

View full rent data for South Charleston, WV

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in South Charleston, WV?

Median rent in South Charleston is $1,088 a month. A typical chef in West Virginia earns about $54,528 a year, which makes that rent 23.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in South Charleston?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in West Virginia (~$54,528/yr) supports up to $1,363 a month in rent. South Charleston's current median rent is $1,088/mo, which leaves a $275/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a chef in West Virginia works roughly 41.5 hours a month to cover South Charleston's median rent of $1,088.

Where is rent cheaper than South Charleston for a chef?

Nearby West Virginia cities with lower median rent include Huntington ($1,074/mo), Fairmont ($1,072/mo), Huntington ($1,067/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived West Virginia state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for South Charleston, WV. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.