Can A Chef Afford Rent in Waterloo, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 24.8% of gross income.
Waterloo rent: January 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 Waterloo, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:
Compare with full rent data for Waterloo
View full rent data for Waterloo, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a chef afford rent in Waterloo, IL?
Median rent in Waterloo is $1,350 a month. A typical chef in Illinois earns about $65,433 a year, which makes that rent 24.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a chef afford in Waterloo?
Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Illinois (~$65,433/yr) supports up to $1,636 a month in rent. Waterloo's current median rent is $1,350/mo, which leaves a $286/mo buffer.
How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Waterloo?
At an hourly equivalent of about $31 an hour, a chef in Illinois works roughly 42.9 hours a month to cover Waterloo's median rent of $1,350.
Where is rent cheaper than Waterloo for a chef?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Swansea ($1,349/mo), Champaign ($1,348/mo), Cicero ($1,345/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.