Can A Chef Afford Rent in O Fallon, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 29.9% of gross income.

O Fallon rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

O Fallon median rent
$1,631/mo
Chef salary (Illinois)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
29.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. O Fallon's median rent of $1,631 leaves roughly $5/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 51.8 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 O Fallon, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

La Grange Park, IL
$1,628/mo (29.9% of income)
Joliet, IL
$1,627/mo (29.8% of income)
Woodridge, IL
$1,626/mo (29.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for O Fallon

View full rent data for O Fallon, IL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in O Fallon, IL?

Median rent in O Fallon is $1,631 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 29.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in O Fallon?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. O Fallon's current median rent is $1,631/mo, which leaves a $5/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 51.8 hours a month to cover O Fallon's median rent of $1,631.

Where is rent cheaper than O Fallon for a chef?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include La Grange Park ($1,628/mo), Joliet ($1,627/mo), Woodridge ($1,626/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 O Fallon, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.