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

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.5% of gross income.

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

Dekalb median rent
$1,371/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Illinois)
$62,006/yr
Rent as % of income
26.5%
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 $1,371 leaves roughly $179/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 46 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:

Champaign, IL
$1,370/mo (26.5% of income)
Urbana, IL
$1,368/mo (26.5% of income)
Bloomington, IL
$1,368/mo (26.5% 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 $1,371 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Illinois earns about $62,006 a year, which makes that rent 26.5% 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 $1,371/mo, which leaves a $179/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 hours a month to cover Dekalb's median rent of $1,371.

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

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Champaign ($1,370/mo), Urbana ($1,368/mo), Bloomington ($1,368/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.