Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Ottawa, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25% of gross income.
Ottawa rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).
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 Ottawa, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:
Compare with full rent data for Ottawa
View full rent data for Ottawa, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a real estate agent afford rent in Ottawa, IL?
Median rent in Ottawa is $1,391 a month. A typical real estate agent in Illinois earns about $66,892 a year, which makes that rent 25% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Ottawa?
Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Illinois (~$66,892/yr) supports up to $1,672 a month in rent. Ottawa's current median rent is $1,391/mo, which leaves a $281/mo buffer.
How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Ottawa?
At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a real estate agent in Illinois works roughly 43.3 hours a month to cover Ottawa's median rent of $1,391.
Where is rent cheaper than Ottawa for a real estate agent?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Swansea ($1,390/mo), Saint Charles ($1,390/mo), Cahokia ($1,390/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.