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

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 13.4% of gross income.

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

Carbondale median rent
$749/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Illinois)
$66,892/yr
Rent as % of income
13.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,574, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,672/mo in rent. Carbondale's median rent of $749 leaves roughly $923/mo of headroom under that threshold. A real estate agent works roughly 23.3 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 Carbondale, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Peoria, IL
$747/mo (13.4% of income)
Peoria, IL
$744/mo (13.3% of income)
Rockford, IL
$744/mo (13.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Carbondale

View full rent data for Carbondale, IL

Frequently asked questions

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

Median rent in Carbondale is $749 a month. A typical real estate agent in Illinois earns about $66,892 a year, which makes that rent 13.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

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

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Illinois (~$66,892/yr) supports up to $1,672 a month in rent. Carbondale's current median rent is $749/mo, which leaves a $923/mo buffer.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a real estate agent in Illinois works roughly 23.3 hours a month to cover Carbondale's median rent of $749.

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

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Peoria ($747/mo), Peoria ($744/mo), Rockford ($744/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 Carbondale, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.