Can A Chef Afford Rent in Deerfield, IL?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.4% of gross income.
Deerfield 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 Deerfield, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Deerfield
View full rent data for Deerfield, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Deerfield, IL?
Median rent in Deerfield is $2,529 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 46.4% 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 Deerfield?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Deerfield's current median rent is $2,529/mo, which is $893/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Deerfield?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 80.4 hours a month to cover Deerfield's median rent of $2,529.
Where is rent cheaper than Deerfield for a chef?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Barrington ($2,528/mo), Itasca ($2,528/mo), Wheaton ($2,525/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.