Can A Chef Afford Rent in Cleveland, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.3% of gross income.

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

Cleveland median rent
$1,439/mo
Chef salary (Tennessee)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
29.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Cleveland's median rent of $1,439 leaves roughly $36/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 50.7 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 Cleveland, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Morristown, TN
$1,434/mo (29.2% of income)
Morristown, TN
$1,429/mo (29.1% of income)
Columbia, TN
$1,428/mo (29% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cleveland

View full rent data for Cleveland, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Cleveland, TN?

Median rent in Cleveland is $1,439 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 29.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Cleveland?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Cleveland's current median rent is $1,439/mo, which leaves a $36/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 50.7 hours a month to cover Cleveland's median rent of $1,439.

Where is rent cheaper than Cleveland for a chef?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Morristown ($1,434/mo), Morristown ($1,429/mo), Columbia ($1,428/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 Cleveland, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.