Can A Chef Afford Rent in Charleston, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 14% of gross income.
Charleston rent: September 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 Charleston, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Charleston
View full rent data for Charleston, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Charleston, IL?
Median rent in Charleston is $762 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 14% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Charleston?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Charleston's current median rent is $762/mo, which leaves a $874/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Charleston?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 24.2 hours a month to cover Charleston's median rent of $762.
Where is rent cheaper than Charleston for a chef?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rockford ($731/mo), Belleville ($729/mo), Carbondale ($673/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.