Can A Chef Afford Rent in Bradley, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.3% of gross income.
Bradley rent: February 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 Bradley, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Bradley
View full rent data for Bradley, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Bradley, IL?
Median rent in Bradley is $1,544 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 28.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Bradley?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Bradley's current median rent is $1,544/mo, which leaves a $92/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Bradley?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 49.1 hours a month to cover Bradley's median rent of $1,544.
Where is rent cheaper than Bradley for a chef?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Sycamore ($1,543/mo), Waukegan ($1,542/mo), Woodridge ($1,539/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.