Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Kankakee, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.7% of gross income.

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

Kankakee median rent
$1,160/mo
Paramedic salary (Illinois)
$54,244/yr
Rent as % of income
25.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,520, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,356/mo in rent. Kankakee's median rent of $1,160 leaves roughly $196/mo of headroom under that threshold. A paramedic works roughly 44.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a paramedic salary

Paramedic and EMT base pay sits modestly below the US median household income and is often supplemented by overtime. At the national-average paramedic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Kankakee, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Collinsville, IL
$1,159/mo (25.6% of income)
Collinsville, IL
$1,159/mo (25.6% of income)
Collinsville, IL
$1,158/mo (25.6% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Kankakee

View full rent data for Kankakee, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Kankakee, IL?

Median rent in Kankakee is $1,160 a month. A typical paramedic in Illinois earns about $54,244 a year, which makes that rent 25.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Kankakee?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Illinois (~$54,244/yr) supports up to $1,356 a month in rent. Kankakee's current median rent is $1,160/mo, which leaves a $196/mo buffer.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Kankakee?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a paramedic in Illinois works roughly 44.5 hours a month to cover Kankakee's median rent of $1,160.

Where is rent cheaper than Kankakee for a paramedic?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Collinsville ($1,159/mo), Collinsville ($1,159/mo), Collinsville ($1,158/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

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