Can A HVAC Technician Afford Rent in Suffolk, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 40.9% of gross income.

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

Suffolk median rent
$1,993/mo
HVAC Technician salary (Virginia)
$58,446/yr
Rent as % of income
40.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,871, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,461/mo in rent. Suffolk's median rent of $1,993 exceeds that threshold by $532/mo, putting a hvac technician salary into the rent-burdened range here. A hvac technician works roughly 70.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a hvac technician salary

HVAC technician pay sits near the US median household income and rises sharply with certification and overtime. At the national-average HVAC salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,433 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Virginia cities have lower median rent than Suffolk, which improves the affordability math on a hvac technician salary:

Blacksburg, VA
$1,987/mo (40.8% of income)
Charlottesville, VA
$1,986/mo (40.8% of income)
Stephens City, VA
$1,985/mo (40.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Suffolk

View full rent data for Suffolk, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a hvac technician afford rent in Suffolk, VA?

Median rent in Suffolk is $1,993 a month. A typical hvac technician in Virginia earns about $58,446 a year, which makes that rent 40.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a hvac technician afford in Suffolk?

Using the 30% rule, a hvac technician salary in Virginia (~$58,446/yr) supports up to $1,461 a month in rent. Suffolk's current median rent is $1,993/mo, which is $532/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a hvac technician work to cover rent in Suffolk?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a hvac technician in Virginia works roughly 70.9 hours a month to cover Suffolk's median rent of $1,993.

Where is rent cheaper than Suffolk for a hvac technician?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Blacksburg ($1,987/mo), Charlottesville ($1,986/mo), Stephens City ($1,985/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a hvac technician salary.

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