Can A Chef Afford Rent in Elizabethton, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 21.7% of gross income.

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

Elizabethton median rent
$1,067/mo
Chef salary (Tennessee)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
21.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Elizabethton's median rent of $1,067 leaves roughly $408/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 37.6 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 Elizabethton, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Athens, TN
$1,063/mo (21.6% of income)
Athens, TN
$1,056/mo (21.5% of income)
Martin, TN
$1,050/mo (21.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Elizabethton

View full rent data for Elizabethton, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Elizabethton, TN?

Median rent in Elizabethton is $1,067 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 21.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Elizabethton?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Elizabethton's current median rent is $1,067/mo, which leaves a $408/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 37.6 hours a month to cover Elizabethton's median rent of $1,067.

Where is rent cheaper than Elizabethton for a chef?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Athens ($1,063/mo), Athens ($1,056/mo), Martin ($1,050/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 Elizabethton, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.