Can A Chef Afford Rent in East Alton, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 15.6% of gross income.
East Alton rent: January 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 East Alton, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for East Alton
View full rent data for East Alton, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in East Alton, IL?
Median rent in East Alton is $850 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 15.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in East Alton?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. East Alton's current median rent is $850/mo, which leaves a $786/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in East Alton?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 27 hours a month to cover East Alton's median rent of $850.
Where is rent cheaper than East Alton for a chef?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Pekin ($843/mo), Danville ($843/mo), Rantoul ($841/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.