Can A Chef Afford Rent in Bristol, TN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.3% of gross income.
Bristol rent: July 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 Bristol, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Bristol
View full rent data for Bristol, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Bristol, TN?
Median rent in Bristol is $1,393 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 28.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Bristol?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Bristol's current median rent is $1,393/mo, which leaves a $82/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Bristol?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 49.1 hours a month to cover Bristol's median rent of $1,393.
Where is rent cheaper than Bristol for a chef?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Morristown ($1,391/mo), Cleveland ($1,386/mo), Clarksville ($1,386/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.