Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Ottawa, IL?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.9% of gross income.
Ottawa rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Illinois state estimate).
About rent and a truck driver salary
Truck driver pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Because many drivers can base anywhere along their route, the home-city rent decision has an outsized effect on take-home. At the national-average driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,418 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range and which push it out of reach.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Illinois cities have lower median rent than Ottawa, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Ottawa
View full rent data for Ottawa, IL →Frequently asked questions
Can a truck driver afford rent in Ottawa, IL?
Median rent in Ottawa is $1,391 a month. A typical truck driver in Illinois earns about $57,844 a year, which makes that rent 28.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a truck driver afford in Ottawa?
Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in Illinois (~$57,844/yr) supports up to $1,446 a month in rent. Ottawa's current median rent is $1,391/mo, which leaves a $55/mo buffer.
How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in Ottawa?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a truck driver in Illinois works roughly 50 hours a month to cover Ottawa's median rent of $1,391.
Where is rent cheaper than Ottawa for a truck driver?
Nearby Illinois cities with lower median rent include Swansea ($1,390/mo), Saint Charles ($1,390/mo), Cahokia ($1,390/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.