Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Champaign, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 41.9% of gross income.

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

Champaign median rent
$1,410/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
41.9%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Champaign's median rent of $1,410 exceeds that threshold by $400/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 72.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a nursing assistant salary

Nursing assistant (CNA) pay falls below the rent threshold for a one-bedroom in nearly every US metro, which is the central tension behind the widely studied direct-care workforce affordability gap. At the national-average CNA salary, the 30% rule supports about $990 a month in rent — below median rent in most cities. The per-city pages quantify how far below.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Champaign, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Cahokia, IL
$1,408/mo (41.8% of income)
Ottawa, IL
$1,408/mo (41.8% of income)
Dekalb, IL
$1,404/mo (41.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Champaign

View full rent data for Champaign, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Champaign, IL?

Median rent in Champaign is $1,410 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 41.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a nursing assistant afford in Champaign?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Champaign's current median rent is $1,410/mo, which is $400/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a nursing assistant work to cover rent in Champaign?

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 72.6 hours a month to cover Champaign's median rent of $1,410.

Where is rent cheaper than Champaign for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Cahokia ($1,408/mo), Ottawa ($1,408/mo), Dekalb ($1,404/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a nursing assistant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Illinois state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Champaign, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.