Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Lake in the Hills, IL?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 69.6% of gross income.
Lake in the Hills rent: June 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 Lake in the Hills, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Lake in the Hills
View full rent data for Lake in the Hills, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Lake in the Hills, IL?
Median rent in Lake in the Hills is $2,160 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Illinois earns about $37,261 a year, which makes that rent 69.6% 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 Lake in the Hills?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Illinois (~$37,261/yr) supports up to $932 a month in rent. Lake in the Hills's current median rent is $2,160/mo, which is $1,228/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Lake in the Hills?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Illinois works roughly 120.6 hours a month to cover Lake in the Hills's median rent of $2,160.
Where is rent cheaper than Lake in the Hills for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Buffalo Grove ($2,159/mo), Vernon Hills ($2,159/mo), Streamwood ($2,158/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.