Can A Chef Afford Rent in Morton, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33% of gross income.

Morton rent: January 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Morton median rent
$1,799/mo
Chef salary (Illinois)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
33%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Morton's median rent of $1,799 exceeds that threshold by $163/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 57.2 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 Morton, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Oak Lawn, IL
$1,797/mo (33% of income)
Brookfield, IL
$1,796/mo (32.9% of income)
Bensenville, IL
$1,796/mo (32.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Morton

View full rent data for Morton, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Morton, IL?

Median rent in Morton is $1,799 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 33% 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 Morton?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Morton's current median rent is $1,799/mo, which is $163/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 57.2 hours a month to cover Morton's median rent of $1,799.

Where is rent cheaper than Morton for a chef?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Oak Lawn ($1,797/mo), Brookfield ($1,796/mo), Bensenville ($1,796/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 Morton, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.