Can A Chef Afford Rent in Tullahoma, TN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.2% of gross income.

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

Tullahoma median rent
$1,533/mo
Chef salary (Tennessee)
$59,018/yr
Rent as % of income
31.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,918, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,475/mo in rent. Tullahoma's median rent of $1,533 exceeds that threshold by $58/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 54 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 Tullahoma, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Seymour, TN
$1,531/mo (31.1% of income)
Chattanooga, TN
$1,529/mo (31.1% of income)
Columbia, TN
$1,528/mo (31.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Tullahoma

View full rent data for Tullahoma, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Tullahoma, TN?

Median rent in Tullahoma is $1,533 a month. A typical chef in Tennessee earns about $59,018 a year, which makes that rent 31.2% 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 Tullahoma?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Tennessee (~$59,018/yr) supports up to $1,475 a month in rent. Tullahoma's current median rent is $1,533/mo, which is $58/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a chef in Tennessee works roughly 54 hours a month to cover Tullahoma's median rent of $1,533.

Where is rent cheaper than Tullahoma for a chef?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Seymour ($1,531/mo), Chattanooga ($1,529/mo), Columbia ($1,528/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 Tullahoma, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.