Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Chesapeake, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 60.6% of gross income.

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

Chesapeake median rent
$2,041/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Virginia)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
60.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Chesapeake's median rent of $2,041 exceeds that threshold by $1,031/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 105.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a nursing assistant salary

Nursing assistant (CNA) pay falls below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in nearly every US metro, which is the central tension behind the widely studied direct-care workforce affordability gap. At the national-average CNA salary, the 30% rule supports about $990 a month in rent — below median rent in most cities. The per-city pages quantify how far below.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Virginia cities have lower median rent than Chesapeake, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Mechanicsville, VA
$2,037/mo (60.5% of income)
Midlothian, VA
$2,034/mo (60.4% of income)
Lakeside, VA
$2,033/mo (60.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chesapeake

View full rent data for Chesapeake, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Chesapeake, VA?

Median rent in Chesapeake is $2,041 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Virginia earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 60.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Chesapeake?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Virginia (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Chesapeake's current median rent is $2,041/mo, which is $1,031/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Chesapeake?

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Virginia works roughly 105.1 hours a month to cover Chesapeake's median rent of $2,041.

Where is rent cheaper than Chesapeake for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Mechanicsville ($2,037/mo), Midlothian ($2,034/mo), Lakeside ($2,033/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

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