Can A Chef Afford Rent in Rantoul, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 16.9% of gross income.

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

Rantoul median rent
$921/mo
Chef salary (Illinois)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
16.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Rantoul's median rent of $921 leaves roughly $715/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 29.3 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 Rantoul, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Rock Island, IL
$914/mo (16.8% of income)
Rock Island, IL
$907/mo (16.6% of income)
Alton, IL
$902/mo (16.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Rantoul

View full rent data for Rantoul, IL →

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Rantoul, IL?

Median rent in Rantoul is $921 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 16.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Rantoul?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Rantoul's current median rent is $921/mo, which leaves a $715/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 29.3 hours a month to cover Rantoul's median rent of $921.

Where is rent cheaper than Rantoul for a chef?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rock Island ($914/mo), Rock Island ($907/mo), Alton ($902/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 Rantoul, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.