Can A Bartender Afford Rent in Machesney Park, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.2% of gross income.

Machesney Park rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Machesney Park median rent
$1,469/mo
Bartender salary (Illinois)
$35,833/yr
Rent as % of income
49.2%
Gross monthly income works out to about $2,986, and the 30% rule supports up to $896/mo in rent. Machesney Park's median rent of $1,469 exceeds that threshold by $573/mo, putting a bartender salary into the rent-burdened range here. A bartender works roughly 85.3 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a bartender salary

Declared bartender pay sits below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in most US cities. Actual tip income in high-volume bars and fine-dining can push real take-home substantially higher. At the national-average declared bartender salary, the 30% rule supports about $878 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Machesney Park, which improves the affordability math on a bartender salary:

Woodstock, IL
$1,468/mo (49.2% of income)
Chicago Heights, IL
$1,467/mo (49.1% of income)
Swansea, IL
$1,466/mo (49.1% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Machesney Park

View full rent data for Machesney Park, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a bartender afford rent in Machesney Park, IL?

Median rent in Machesney Park is $1,469 a month. A typical bartender in Illinois earns about $35,833 a year, which makes that rent 49.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a bartender afford in Machesney Park?

Using the 30% rule, a bartender salary in Illinois (~$35,833/yr) supports up to $896 a month in rent. Machesney Park's current median rent is $1,469/mo, which is $573/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a bartender work to cover rent in Machesney Park?

At an hourly equivalent of about $17 an hour, a bartender in Illinois works roughly 85.3 hours a month to cover Machesney Park's median rent of $1,469.

Where is rent cheaper than Machesney Park for a bartender?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Woodstock ($1,468/mo), Chicago Heights ($1,467/mo), Swansea ($1,466/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a bartender salary.

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