Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in Zion, IL?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.4% of gross income.

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

Zion median rent
$1,526/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Illinois)
$37,811/yr
Rent as % of income
48.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,151, and the 30% rule supports up to $945/mo in rent. Zion's median rent of $1,526 exceeds that threshold by $581/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 83.9 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Zion, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Calumet City, IL
$1,525/mo (48.4% of income)
Edwardsville, IL
$1,525/mo (48.4% of income)
Edwardsville, IL
$1,524/mo (48.4% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Zion

View full rent data for Zion, IL

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Zion, IL?

Median rent in Zion is $1,526 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Illinois earns about $37,811 a year, which makes that rent 48.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in Zion?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Illinois (~$37,811/yr) supports up to $945 a month in rent. Zion's current median rent is $1,526/mo, which is $581/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in Zion?

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a retail salesperson in Illinois works roughly 83.9 hours a month to cover Zion's median rent of $1,526.

Where is rent cheaper than Zion for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Calumet City ($1,525/mo), Edwardsville ($1,525/mo), Edwardsville ($1,524/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

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