Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Chattanooga, TN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 14.8% of gross income.

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

Chattanooga median rent
$1,505/mo
Pharmacist salary (Tennessee)
$122,130/yr
Rent as % of income
14.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $10,178, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,053/mo in rent. Chattanooga's median rent of $1,505 leaves roughly $1,548/mo of headroom under that threshold. A pharmacist works roughly 25.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a pharmacist salary

Pharmacist pay covers comfortable rent in nearly every US city. At the national-average pharmacist salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,319 a month in rent — above median rent in all but a handful of high-cost coastal metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Chattanooga, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

Morristown, TN
$1,502/mo (14.8% of income)
Cordova, TN
$1,500/mo (14.7% of income)
Smithville, TN
$1,500/mo (14.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Chattanooga

View full rent data for Chattanooga, TN

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Chattanooga, TN?

Median rent in Chattanooga is $1,505 a month. A typical pharmacist in Tennessee earns about $122,130 a year, which makes that rent 14.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Chattanooga?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in Tennessee (~$122,130/yr) supports up to $3,053 a month in rent. Chattanooga's current median rent is $1,505/mo, which leaves a $1,548/mo buffer.

How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Chattanooga?

At an hourly equivalent of about $59 an hour, a pharmacist in Tennessee works roughly 25.6 hours a month to cover Chattanooga's median rent of $1,505.

Where is rent cheaper than Chattanooga for a pharmacist?

Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Morristown ($1,502/mo), Cordova ($1,500/mo), Smithville ($1,500/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Tennessee state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Chattanooga, TN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.