How much rent can you afford in Chicago, IL?
Run your salary against Chicago's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Chicago
At a median rent of $2,395/mo, Chicago is moderately stretched when measured against Chicago median household income of $77,902/yr. Rent would consume roughly 37% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $95,800 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Chicago compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Chicago?
On a $77,902 salary (the Chicago median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $1,948/mo. Chicago's median rent is $2,395/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Chicago?
To keep Chicago's $2,395/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $95,800/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Chicago affordable on the median Illinois income?
Chicago is moderately stretched on a $77,902 income. Rent would take 37% of pre-tax pay, outside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".