Can A Chef Afford Rent in Pekin, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 17% of gross income.
Pekin rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).
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 Pekin, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Pekin
View full rent data for Pekin, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Pekin, IL?
Median rent in Pekin is $926 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 17% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Pekin?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Pekin's current median rent is $926/mo, which leaves a $710/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Pekin?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 29.4 hours a month to cover Pekin's median rent of $926.
Where is rent cheaper than Pekin for a chef?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Moline ($925/mo), Moline ($922/mo), Macomb ($919/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.