Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Glen Ellyn, IL?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 70% of gross income.
Glen Ellyn rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).
About rent and a waiter or waitress salary
Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Glen Ellyn, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Glen Ellyn
View full rent data for Glen Ellyn, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Glen Ellyn, IL?
Median rent in Glen Ellyn is $2,173 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Illinois earns about $37,261 a year, which makes that rent 70% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Glen Ellyn?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Illinois (~$37,261/yr) supports up to $932 a month in rent. Glen Ellyn's current median rent is $2,173/mo, which is $1,241/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Glen Ellyn?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Illinois works roughly 121.3 hours a month to cover Glen Ellyn's median rent of $2,173.
Where is rent cheaper than Glen Ellyn for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Warrenville ($2,172/mo), Darien ($2,171/mo), Darien ($2,169/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.