Can A Chef Afford Rent in Glendale Heights, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 35.7% of gross income.

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

Glendale Heights median rent
$1,949/mo
Chef salary (Illinois)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
35.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Glendale Heights's median rent of $1,949 exceeds that threshold by $313/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 62 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 Glendale Heights, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Arlington Heights, IL
$1,947/mo (35.7% of income)
Hoffman Estates, IL
$1,946/mo (35.7% of income)
Saint Charles, IL
$1,945/mo (35.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Glendale Heights

View full rent data for Glendale Heights, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Glendale Heights, IL?

Median rent in Glendale Heights is $1,949 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 35.7% 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 Glendale Heights?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Glendale Heights's current median rent is $1,949/mo, which is $313/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 62 hours a month to cover Glendale Heights's median rent of $1,949.

Where is rent cheaper than Glendale Heights for a chef?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Arlington Heights ($1,947/mo), Hoffman Estates ($1,946/mo), Saint Charles ($1,945/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 Glendale Heights, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.