Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Downers Grove, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.2% of gross income.
Downers Grove rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).
About rent and a registered nurse salary
Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Downers Grove, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Downers Grove
View full rent data for Downers Grove, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Downers Grove, IL?
Median rent in Downers Grove is $2,264 a month. A typical registered nurse in Illinois earns about $96,370 a year, which makes that rent 28.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Downers Grove?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Illinois (~$96,370/yr) supports up to $2,409 a month in rent. Downers Grove's current median rent is $2,264/mo, which leaves a $145/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Downers Grove?
At an hourly equivalent of about $46 an hour, a registered nurse in Illinois works roughly 48.9 hours a month to cover Downers Grove's median rent of $2,264.
Where is rent cheaper than Downers Grove for a registered nurse?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Darien ($2,263/mo), North Aurora ($2,263/mo), Highwood ($2,262/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a registered nurse salary.