Can A Chef Afford Rent in Addison, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34% of gross income.

Addison rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Addison median rent
$1,854/mo
Chef salary (Illinois)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
34%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Addison's median rent of $1,854 exceeds that threshold by $218/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 58.9 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 Illinois cities have lower median rent than Addison, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Glendale Heights, IL
$1,853/mo (34% of income)
Glendale Heights, IL
$1,852/mo (34% of income)
Crystal Lake, IL
$1,851/mo (33.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Addison

View full rent data for Addison, IL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Addison, IL?

Median rent in Addison is $1,854 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 34% 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 Addison?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Addison's current median rent is $1,854/mo, which is $218/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 58.9 hours a month to cover Addison's median rent of $1,854.

Where is rent cheaper than Addison for a chef?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Glendale Heights ($1,853/mo), Glendale Heights ($1,852/mo), Crystal Lake ($1,851/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

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