Can A Chef Afford Rent in Greeneville, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.6% of gross income.

Greeneville rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).

Greeneville median rent
$1,112/mo
Chef salary (Tennessee)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
22.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Greeneville's median rent of $1,112 leaves roughly $363/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 39.2 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 Greeneville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Covington, TN
$1,100/mo (22.4% of income)
Covington, TN
$1,100/mo (22.4% of income)
Athens, TN
$1,099/mo (22.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Greeneville

View full rent data for Greeneville, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Greeneville, TN?

Median rent in Greeneville is $1,112 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 22.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Greeneville?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Greeneville's current median rent is $1,112/mo, which leaves a $363/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 39.2 hours a month to cover Greeneville's median rent of $1,112.

Where is rent cheaper than Greeneville for a chef?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Covington ($1,100/mo), Covington ($1,100/mo), Athens ($1,099/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 Greeneville, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.