Can A Software Developer Afford Rent in Great Falls, VA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 44% of gross income.

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

Great Falls median rent
$5,167/mo
Software Developer salary (Virginia)
$140,872/yr
Rent as % of income
44%
Gross monthly income works out to about $11,739, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,522/mo in rent. Great Falls's median rent of $5,167 exceeds that threshold by $1,645/mo, putting a software developer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A software developer works roughly 76.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a software developer salary

Software developer pay is among the highest of any large occupation, which makes rent affordability comfortable in nearly every US city. The interesting question for developers is not whether they can afford rent, but how much surplus is left after rent in different markets. At the national-average developer salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,453 a month in rent — well above the median rent in even the most expensive US metros. The per-city pages quantify how much paycheck remains after typical local rent at the local developer-pay estimate.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Virginia cities have lower median rent than Great Falls, which improves the affordability math on a software developer salary:

Fort Hunt, VA
$4,549/mo (38.8% of income)
Fort Hunt, VA
$4,375/mo (37.3% of income)
Fort Hunt, VA
$4,100/mo (34.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Great Falls

View full rent data for Great Falls, VA

Frequently asked questions

Can a software developer afford rent in Great Falls, VA?

Median rent in Great Falls is $5,167 a month. A typical software developer in Virginia earns about $140,872 a year, which makes that rent 44% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a software developer afford in Great Falls?

Using the 30% rule, a software developer salary in Virginia (~$140,872/yr) supports up to $3,522 a month in rent. Great Falls's current median rent is $5,167/mo, which is $1,645/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a software developer work to cover rent in Great Falls?

At an hourly equivalent of about $68 an hour, a software developer in Virginia works roughly 76.3 hours a month to cover Great Falls's median rent of $5,167.

Where is rent cheaper than Great Falls for a software developer?

Nearby Virginia cities with lower median rent include Fort Hunt ($4,549/mo), Fort Hunt ($4,375/mo), Fort Hunt ($4,100/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a software developer salary.

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