Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Dekalb, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 27% of gross income.

Dekalb rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).

Dekalb median rent
$1,394/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Illinois)
$62,006/yr
Rent as % of income
27%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,167, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,550/mo in rent. Dekalb's median rent of $1,394 leaves roughly $156/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 46.8 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Dekalb, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Urbana, IL
$1,393/mo (27% of income)
Champaign, IL
$1,393/mo (27% of income)
Midlothian, IL
$1,392/mo (26.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Dekalb

View full rent data for Dekalb, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Dekalb, IL?

Median rent in Dekalb is $1,394 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Illinois earns about $62,006 a year, which makes that rent 27% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Dekalb?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Illinois (~$62,006/yr) supports up to $1,550 a month in rent. Dekalb's current median rent is $1,394/mo, which leaves a $156/mo buffer.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Dekalb?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Illinois works roughly 46.8 hours a month to cover Dekalb's median rent of $1,394.

Where is rent cheaper than Dekalb for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Urbana ($1,393/mo), Champaign ($1,393/mo), Midlothian ($1,392/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

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