Can A Chef Afford Rent in Kingston, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27.5% of gross income.

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

Kingston median rent
$1,352/mo
Chef salary (Tennessee)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
27.5%
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 $1,352 leaves roughly $123/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 47.6 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 Kingston, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Jackson, TN
$1,351/mo (27.5% of income)
Bristol, TN
$1,350/mo (27.4% of income)
Johnson City, TN
$1,349/mo (27.4% 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 $1,352 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 27.5% 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 $1,352/mo, which leaves a $123/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 47.6 hours a month to cover Kingston's median rent of $1,352.

Where is rent cheaper than Kingston for a chef?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Jackson ($1,351/mo), Bristol ($1,350/mo), Johnson City ($1,349/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.