Can A Chef Afford Rent in Gallatin, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.2% of gross income.

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

Gallatin median rent
$1,633/mo
Chef salary (Tennessee)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
33.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Gallatin's median rent of $1,633 exceeds that threshold by $158/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 57.6 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 Gallatin, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Smyrna, TN
$1,632/mo (33.2% of income)
Smyrna, TN
$1,632/mo (33.2% of income)
Lebanon, TN
$1,632/mo (33.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gallatin

View full rent data for Gallatin, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Gallatin, TN?

Median rent in Gallatin is $1,633 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 33.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Gallatin?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Gallatin's current median rent is $1,633/mo, which is $158/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 57.6 hours a month to cover Gallatin's median rent of $1,633.

Where is rent cheaper than Gallatin for a chef?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Smyrna ($1,632/mo), Smyrna ($1,632/mo), Lebanon ($1,632/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 Gallatin, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.