Can A Chef Afford Rent in Athens, TN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.1% of gross income.
Athens rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).
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 Athens, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Athens
View full rent data for Athens, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Athens, TN?
Median rent in Athens is $1,085 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 22.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Athens?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Athens's current median rent is $1,085/mo, which leaves a $390/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Athens?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 38.2 hours a month to cover Athens's median rent of $1,085.
Where is rent cheaper than Athens for a chef?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Columbia ($1,083/mo), Greeneville ($1,082/mo), Clarksville ($1,080/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.