Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Belleville, IL?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 19.3% of gross income.

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

Belleville median rent
$1,078/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Illinois)
$66,892/yr
Rent as % of income
19.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,574, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,672/mo in rent. Belleville's median rent of $1,078 leaves roughly $594/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 33.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Belleville, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Rock Island, IL
$1,077/mo (19.3% of income)
La Salle, IL
$1,075/mo (19.3% of income)
Kankakee, IL
$1,074/mo (19.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Belleville

View full rent data for Belleville, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Belleville, IL?

Median rent in Belleville is $1,078 a month. A typical real estate agent in Illinois earns about $66,892 a year, which makes that rent 19.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Belleville?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Illinois (~$66,892/yr) supports up to $1,672 a month in rent. Belleville's current median rent is $1,078/mo, which leaves a $594/mo buffer.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Belleville?

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a real estate agent in Illinois works roughly 33.5 hours a month to cover Belleville's median rent of $1,078.

Where is rent cheaper than Belleville for a real estate agent?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Rock Island ($1,077/mo), La Salle ($1,075/mo), Kankakee ($1,074/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

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