Can A Chef Afford Rent in Morton Grove, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 45.5% of gross income.

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

Morton Grove median rent
$2,483/mo
Chef salary (Illinois)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
45.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Morton Grove's median rent of $2,483 exceeds that threshold by $847/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 78.9 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 Grove, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Glen Ellyn, IL
$2,480/mo (45.5% of income)
Oswego, IL
$2,477/mo (45.4% of income)
North Aurora, IL
$2,476/mo (45.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Morton Grove

View full rent data for Morton Grove, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Morton Grove, IL?

Median rent in Morton Grove is $2,483 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 45.5% 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 Grove?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Morton Grove's current median rent is $2,483/mo, which is $847/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 78.9 hours a month to cover Morton Grove's median rent of $2,483.

Where is rent cheaper than Morton Grove for a chef?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Glen Ellyn ($2,480/mo), Oswego ($2,477/mo), North Aurora ($2,476/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 Grove, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.