Can A Chef Afford Rent in Arlington, TN?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 50.4% of gross income.

Arlington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Arlington median rent
$2,480/mo
Chef salary (Tennessee)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
50.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Arlington's median rent of $2,480 exceeds that threshold by $1,005/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 87.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Arlington, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Germantown, TN
$2,415/mo (49.1% of income)
Germantown, TN
$2,300/mo (46.8% of income)
Germantown, TN
$2,290/mo (46.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Arlington

View full rent data for Arlington, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Arlington, TN?

Median rent in Arlington is $2,480 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 50.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Arlington?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Arlington's current median rent is $2,480/mo, which is $1,005/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Arlington?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 87.4 hours a month to cover Arlington's median rent of $2,480.

Where is rent cheaper than Arlington for a chef?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Germantown ($2,415/mo), Germantown ($2,300/mo), Germantown ($2,290/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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