Can A Chef Afford Rent in Peoria, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.7% of gross income.

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

Peoria median rent
$1,236/mo
Chef salary (Illinois)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
22.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Peoria's median rent of $1,236 leaves roughly $400/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 39.3 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 Peoria, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Rockford, IL
$1,234/mo (22.6% of income)
Maywood, IL
$1,233/mo (22.6% of income)
Riverdale, IL
$1,233/mo (22.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Peoria

View full rent data for Peoria, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Peoria, IL?

Median rent in Peoria is $1,236 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 22.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Peoria?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Peoria's current median rent is $1,236/mo, which leaves a $400/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 39.3 hours a month to cover Peoria's median rent of $1,236.

Where is rent cheaper than Peoria for a chef?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rockford ($1,234/mo), Maywood ($1,233/mo), Riverdale ($1,233/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 Peoria, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.