Can A Chef Afford Rent in Kingston, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.1% of gross income.

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

Kingston median rent
$1,285/mo
Chef salary (Tennessee)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
26.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Kingston's median rent of $1,285 leaves roughly $190/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 45.3 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 Kingston, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Memphis, TN
$1,281/mo (26% of income)
Memphis, TN
$1,280/mo (26% of income)
Gallatin, TN
$1,279/mo (26% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kingston

View full rent data for Kingston, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Kingston, TN?

Median rent in Kingston is $1,285 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 26.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Kingston?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Kingston's current median rent is $1,285/mo, which leaves a $190/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 45.3 hours a month to cover Kingston's median rent of $1,285.

Where is rent cheaper than Kingston for a chef?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Memphis ($1,281/mo), Memphis ($1,280/mo), Gallatin ($1,279/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 Kingston, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.