Can A Chef Afford Rent in Highland, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22% of gross income.
Highland rent: April 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 Highland, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Highland
View full rent data for Highland, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Highland, IL?
Median rent in Highland is $1,200 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 22% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Highland?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Highland's current median rent is $1,200/mo, which leaves a $436/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Highland?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 38.1 hours a month to cover Highland's median rent of $1,200.
Where is rent cheaper than Highland for a chef?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rockford ($1,199/mo), Peoria ($1,194/mo), Shiloh ($1,192/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.