Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Virginia Beach, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.4% of gross income.

Virginia Beach rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Virginia state estimate).

Virginia Beach median rent
$2,098/mo
Paramedic salary (Virginia)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
46.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Virginia Beach's median rent of $2,098 exceeds that threshold by $742/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 80.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a paramedic salary

Paramedic and EMT base pay sits modestly below the US median household income and is often supplemented by overtime. At the national-average paramedic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Virginia cities have lower median rent than Virginia Beach, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Manassas Park, VA
$2,097/mo (46.4% of income)
Belle Haven, VA
$2,096/mo (46.4% of income)
Manassas, VA
$2,095/mo (46.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Virginia Beach

View full rent data for Virginia Beach, VA →

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Virginia Beach, VA?

Median rent in Virginia Beach is $2,098 a month. A typical paramedic in Virginia earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 46.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Virginia Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Virginia (~$54,244/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Virginia Beach's current median rent is $2,098/mo, which is $742/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Virginia Beach?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in Virginia works roughly 80.4 hours a month to cover Virginia Beach's median rent of $2,098.

Where is rent cheaper than Virginia Beach for a paramedic?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Manassas Park ($2,097/mo), Belle Haven ($2,096/mo), Manassas ($2,095/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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