Can A Chef Afford Rent in Covington, TN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.4% of gross income.
Covington 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 Covington, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Covington
View full rent data for Covington, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Covington, TN?
Median rent in Covington is $1,100 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 22.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Covington?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Covington's current median rent is $1,100/mo, which leaves a $375/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Covington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 38.8 hours a month to cover Covington's median rent of $1,100.
Where is rent cheaper than Covington for a chef?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Athens ($1,099/mo), Chattanooga ($1,089/mo), Knoxville ($1,086/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.