Can A Chef Afford Rent in Johnson City, TN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.8% of gross income.
Johnson City 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 Johnson City, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Johnson City
View full rent data for Johnson City, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Johnson City, TN?
Median rent in Johnson City is $1,467 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 29.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Johnson City?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Johnson City's current median rent is $1,467/mo, which leaves a $8/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Johnson City?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 51.7 hours a month to cover Johnson City's median rent of $1,467.
Where is rent cheaper than Johnson City for a chef?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Seymour ($1,465/mo), Soddy-Daisy ($1,463/mo), Tullahoma ($1,462/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.