Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Cookeville, TN?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.4% of gross income.
Cookeville rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).
About rent and a bartender salary
Declared bartender pay sits below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in most US cities. Actual tip income in high-volume bars and fine-dining can push real take-home substantially higher. At the national-average declared bartender salary, the 30% rule supports about $878 a month in rent.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Cookeville, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:
Compare with full rent data for Cookeville
View full rent data for Cookeville, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a bartender afford rent in Cookeville, TN?
Median rent in Cookeville is $1,491 a month. A typical bartender in Tennessee earns about $32,320 a year, which makes that rent 55.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a bartender afford in Cookeville?
Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Tennessee (~$32,320/yr) supports up to $808 a month in rent. Cookeville's current median rent is $1,491/mo, which is $683/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Cookeville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $16 an hour, a bartender in Tennessee works roughly 96 hours a month to cover Cookeville's median rent of $1,491.
Where is rent cheaper than Cookeville for a bartender?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Johnson City ($1,488/mo), Chattanooga ($1,487/mo), Johnson City ($1,485/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.