Can A Chef Afford Rent in Bloomington, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25% of gross income.
Bloomington rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).
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 Bloomington, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Bloomington
View full rent data for Bloomington, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Bloomington, IL?
Median rent in Bloomington is $1,363 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 25% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Bloomington?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Bloomington's current median rent is $1,363/mo, which leaves a $273/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Bloomington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 43.3 hours a month to cover Bloomington's median rent of $1,363.
Where is rent cheaper than Bloomington for a chef?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Champaign ($1,361/mo), Cicero ($1,361/mo), Zion ($1,360/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.