Can A Chef Afford Rent in Kingsport, TN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.2% of gross income.
Kingsport rent: July 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 Kingsport, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Kingsport
View full rent data for Kingsport, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Kingsport, TN?
Median rent in Kingsport is $1,289 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 26.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Kingsport?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Kingsport's current median rent is $1,289/mo, which leaves a $186/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Kingsport?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 45.4 hours a month to cover Kingsport's median rent of $1,289.
Where is rent cheaper than Kingsport for a chef?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Johnson City ($1,286/mo), Johnson City ($1,285/mo), East Ridge ($1,285/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.