Can A Chef Afford Rent in Round Lake Beach, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.3% of gross income.

Round Lake Beach rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Round Lake Beach median rent
$2,142/mo
Chef salary (Illinois)
$65,433/yr
Rent as % of income
39.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,453, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,636/mo in rent. Round Lake Beach's median rent of $2,142 exceeds that threshold by $506/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 68.1 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 Round Lake Beach, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Naperville, IL
$2,140/mo (39.2% of income)
Skokie, IL
$2,140/mo (39.2% of income)
Oak Park, IL
$2,140/mo (39.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Round Lake Beach

View full rent data for Round Lake Beach, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Round Lake Beach, IL?

Median rent in Round Lake Beach is $2,142 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 39.3% 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 Round Lake Beach?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Round Lake Beach's current median rent is $2,142/mo, which is $506/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Round Lake Beach?

At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 68.1 hours a month to cover Round Lake Beach's median rent of $2,142.

Where is rent cheaper than Round Lake Beach for a chef?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Naperville ($2,140/mo), Skokie ($2,140/mo), Oak Park ($2,140/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 Round Lake Beach, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.