Can A Physical Therapist Afford Rent in Charleston, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 8.6% of gross income.

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

Charleston median rent
$730/mo
Physical Therapist salary (Illinois)
$101,704/yr
Rent as % of income
8.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,475, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,543/mo in rent. Charleston's median rent of $730 leaves roughly $1,813/mo of headroom under that threshold. A physical therapist works roughly 14.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a physical therapist salary

Physical therapist pay covers comfortable rent across most US metros. At the national-average PT salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,493 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities tracked here.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Charleston, which improves the affordability math on a physical therapist salary:

Belleville, IL
$724/mo (8.5% of income)
Carbondale, IL
$679/mo (8% of income)
Belleville, IL
$671/mo (7.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Charleston

View full rent data for Charleston, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a physical therapist afford rent in Charleston, IL?

Median rent in Charleston is $730 a month. A typical physical therapist in Illinois earns about $101,704 a year, which makes that rent 8.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a physical therapist afford in Charleston?

Using the 30% rule, a physical therapist salary in Illinois (~$101,704/yr) supports up to $2,543 a month in rent. Charleston's current median rent is $730/mo, which leaves a $1,813/mo buffer.

How many hours does a physical therapist work to cover rent in Charleston?

At an hourly equivalent of about $49 an hour, a physical therapist in Illinois works roughly 14.9 hours a month to cover Charleston's median rent of $730.

Where is rent cheaper than Charleston for a physical therapist?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Belleville ($724/mo), Carbondale ($679/mo), Belleville ($671/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a physical therapist salary.

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