Can A Nursing Assistant Afford Rent in Cicero, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.5% of gross income.

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

Cicero median rent
$1,229/mo
Nursing Assistant salary (Illinois)
$40,402/yr
Rent as % of income
36.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,367, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,010/mo in rent. Cicero's median rent of $1,229 exceeds that threshold by $219/mo, putting a nursing assistant salary into the rent-burdened range here. A nursing assistant works roughly 63.3 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 Cicero, which improves the affordability math on a nursing assistant salary:

Fairview Heights, IL
$1,228/mo (36.5% of income)
Shiloh, IL
$1,224/mo (36.4% of income)
Riverdale, IL
$1,224/mo (36.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Cicero

View full rent data for Cicero, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Cicero, IL?

Median rent in Cicero is $1,229 a month. A typical nursing assistant in Illinois earns about $40,402 a year, which makes that rent 36.5% 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 Cicero?

Using the 30% rule, a nursing assistant salary in Illinois (~$40,402/yr) supports up to $1,010 a month in rent. Cicero's current median rent is $1,229/mo, which is $219/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $19 an hour, a nursing assistant in Illinois works roughly 63.3 hours a month to cover Cicero's median rent of $1,229.

Where is rent cheaper than Cicero for a nursing assistant?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Fairview Heights ($1,228/mo), Shiloh ($1,224/mo), Riverdale ($1,224/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 Cicero, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.