Can A Chef Afford Rent in Lake in the Hills, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 40% of gross income.

Lake in the Hills rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Lake in the Hills median rent
$2,183/mo
Chef salary (Illinois)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
40%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Lake in the Hills's median rent of $2,183 exceeds that threshold by $547/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 69.4 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 Lake in the Hills, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Warrenville, IL
$2,181/mo (40% of income)
Buffalo Grove, IL
$2,181/mo (40% of income)
Aurora, IL
$2,180/mo (40% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lake in the Hills

View full rent data for Lake in the Hills, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Lake in the Hills, IL?

Median rent in Lake in the Hills is $2,183 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 40% 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 Lake in the Hills?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Lake in the Hills's current median rent is $2,183/mo, which is $547/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Lake in the Hills?

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 69.4 hours a month to cover Lake in the Hills's median rent of $2,183.

Where is rent cheaper than Lake in the Hills for a chef?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Warrenville ($2,181/mo), Buffalo Grove ($2,181/mo), Aurora ($2,180/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 Lake in the Hills, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.