Can A Chef Afford Rent in Dixon, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 20.8% of gross income.

Dixon rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Dixon median rent
$1,133/mo
Chef salary (Illinois)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
20.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Dixon's median rent of $1,133 leaves roughly $503/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 36 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 Dixon, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Rockford, IL
$1,130/mo (20.7% of income)
Waukegan, IL
$1,128/mo (20.7% of income)
Springfield, IL
$1,128/mo (20.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dixon

View full rent data for Dixon, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Dixon, IL?

Median rent in Dixon is $1,133 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 20.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Dixon?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Dixon's current median rent is $1,133/mo, which leaves a $503/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 36 hours a month to cover Dixon's median rent of $1,133.

Where is rent cheaper than Dixon for a chef?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rockford ($1,130/mo), Waukegan ($1,128/mo), Springfield ($1,128/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 Dixon, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.