Can A Chef Afford Rent in Smithville, TN?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.5% of gross income.
Smithville rent: April 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 Smithville, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Smithville
View full rent data for Smithville, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Smithville, TN?
Median rent in Smithville is $1,400 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 28.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Smithville?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Smithville's current median rent is $1,400/mo, which leaves a $75/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Smithville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 49.3 hours a month to cover Smithville's median rent of $1,400.
Where is rent cheaper than Smithville for a chef?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Kingsport ($1,397/mo), Bristol ($1,397/mo), Morristown ($1,391/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.