Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Saint Charles, IL?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.6% of gross income.

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

Saint Charles median rent
$1,928/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (Illinois)
$66,892/yr
Rent as % of income
34.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,574, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,672/mo in rent. Saint Charles's median rent of $1,928 exceeds that threshold by $256/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 60 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 Saint Charles, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Elgin, IL
$1,925/mo (34.5% of income)
Arlington Heights, IL
$1,925/mo (34.5% of income)
Arlington Heights, IL
$1,924/mo (34.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Saint Charles

View full rent data for Saint Charles, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Saint Charles, IL?

Median rent in Saint Charles is $1,928 a month. A typical real estate agent in Illinois earns about $66,892 a year, which makes that rent 34.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Saint Charles?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in Illinois (~$66,892/yr) supports up to $1,672 a month in rent. Saint Charles's current median rent is $1,928/mo, which is $256/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a real estate agent in Illinois works roughly 60 hours a month to cover Saint Charles's median rent of $1,928.

Where is rent cheaper than Saint Charles for a real estate agent?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Elgin ($1,925/mo), Arlington Heights ($1,925/mo), Arlington Heights ($1,924/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 Saint Charles, IL. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.