Can A Chef Afford Rent in Nashville, TN?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 37.3% of gross income.
Nashville 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 Nashville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Nashville
View full rent data for Nashville, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Nashville, TN?
Median rent in Nashville is $1,834 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 37.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a chef afford in Nashville?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Nashville's current median rent is $1,834/mo, which is $359/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Nashville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 64.6 hours a month to cover Nashville's median rent of $1,834.
Where is rent cheaper than Nashville for a chef?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include White House ($1,832/mo), Maryville ($1,830/mo), Lakeland ($1,830/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.