Can A Chef Afford Rent in Midlothian, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.4% of gross income.

Midlothian rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Midlothian median rent
$1,550/mo
Chef salary (Illinois)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
28.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Midlothian's median rent of $1,550 leaves roughly $86/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 49.3 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 Midlothian, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Romeoville, IL
$1,549/mo (28.4% of income)
Woodridge, IL
$1,549/mo (28.4% of income)
Oak Lawn, IL
$1,548/mo (28.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Midlothian

View full rent data for Midlothian, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Midlothian, IL?

Median rent in Midlothian is $1,550 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 28.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Midlothian?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Midlothian's current median rent is $1,550/mo, which leaves a $86/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 49.3 hours a month to cover Midlothian's median rent of $1,550.

Where is rent cheaper than Midlothian for a chef?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Romeoville ($1,549/mo), Woodridge ($1,549/mo), Oak Lawn ($1,548/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 Midlothian, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.