To take home four times the typical rent here, a full-time job needs to pay at least $55.93 an hour before taxes, about $116,326 a year.
Rent is the middle of 165 ZIP-level HUD studio rents in the county. HUD's county-wide figure is $1,678 (Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area).
Rents vary within the county. This is what the standard would be at each ZIP code's own studio rent; the county figure above is what the calculator uses.
| ZIP | Place | Studio rent | Pay needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60004 | Arlington Heights | $2,060/mo | $71.86/hr |
| 60005 | Arlington Heights | $1,840/mo | $63.19/hr |
| 60006 | Arlington Heights | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60007 | Elk Grove Village | $1,840/mo | $63.19/hr |
| 60008 | Rolling Meadows | $1,800/mo | $61.66/hr |
| 60009 | Elk Grove Village | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60010 | Barrington (partly) | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60011 | Barrington (partly) | $1,680/mo | $57.07/hr |
| 60015 | Deerfield (partly) | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60016 | Des Plaines | $1,860/mo | $63.97/hr |
| 60017 | Des Plaines | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60018 | Des Plaines | $1,390/mo | $45.99/hr |
| 60022 | Glencoe | $2,330/mo | $82.50/hr |
| 60025 | Glenview | $1,990/mo | $69.10/hr |
| 60026 | Glenview | $2,240/mo | $78.95/hr |
| 60029 | Golf | $2,170/mo | $76.19/hr |
| 60043 | Kenilworth | $2,400/mo | $85.26/hr |
| 60053 | Morton Grove | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60055 | Palatine | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60056 | Mount Prospect | $1,700/mo | $57.84/hr |
| 60062 | Northbrook | $2,210/mo | $77.77/hr |
| 60065 | Northbrook | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60067 | Palatine | $1,780/mo | $60.90/hr |
| 60068 | Park Ridge | $1,740/mo | $59.37/hr |
| 60070 | Prospect Heights | $1,610/mo | $54.40/hr |
| 60074 | Palatine | $1,810/mo | $62.04/hr |
| 60076 | Skokie | $1,850/mo | $63.58/hr |
| 60077 | Skokie | $1,740/mo | $59.37/hr |
| 60078 | Palatine | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60089 | Buffalo Grove (partly) | $2,380/mo | $84.47/hr |
| 60090 | Wheeling | $1,910/mo | $65.94/hr |
| 60091 | Wilmette | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60093 | Winnetka | $2,190/mo | $76.98/hr |
| 60095 | Palatine | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60103 | Bartlett (partly) | $2,080/mo | $72.64/hr |
| 60104 | Bellwood | $1,420/mo | $47.13/hr |
| 60107 | Streamwood | $2,130/mo | $74.62/hr |
| 60120 | Elgin (partly) | $1,590/mo | $53.63/hr |
| 60130 | Forest Park | $1,590/mo | $53.63/hr |
| 60131 | Franklin Park | $1,310/mo | $42.93/hr |
| 60133 | Hanover Park | $1,750/mo | $59.75/hr |
| 60141 | Hines | $900/mo | $28.23/hr |
| 60153 | Maywood | $1,430/mo | $47.52/hr |
| 60154 | Westchester | $2,040/mo | $71.07/hr |
| 60155 | Broadview | $1,290/mo | $42.16/hr |
| 60159 | Schaumburg | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60160 | Melrose Park | $1,370/mo | $45.22/hr |
| 60161 | Melrose Park | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60162 | Hillside | $1,570/mo | $52.87/hr |
| 60163 | Berkeley | $1,440/mo | $47.90/hr |
| 60164 | Melrose Park | $1,310/mo | $42.93/hr |
| 60165 | Stone Park | $1,500/mo | $50.19/hr |
| 60168 | Schaumburg | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60169 | Hoffman Estates | $1,930/mo | $66.73/hr |
| 60171 | River Grove | $1,440/mo | $47.90/hr |
| 60172 | Roselle (partly) | $1,870/mo | $64.36/hr |
| 60173 | Schaumburg | $2,060/mo | $71.86/hr |
| 60176 | Schiller Park | $1,440/mo | $47.90/hr |
| 60192 | Hoffman Estates | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60193 | Schaumburg | $2,200/mo | $77.38/hr |
| 60194 | Schaumburg | $2,180/mo | $76.59/hr |
| 60195 | Schaumburg | $1,990/mo | $69.10/hr |
| 60196 | Schaumburg | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60201 | Evanston | $2,190/mo | $76.98/hr |
| 60202 | Evanston | $2,050/mo | $71.46/hr |
| 60203 | Evanston | $2,140/mo | $75.01/hr |
| 60204 | Evanston | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60208 | Evanston | $2,190/mo | $76.98/hr |
| 60301 | Oak Park | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60302 | Oak Park | $1,680/mo | $57.07/hr |
| 60303 | Oak Park | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60304 | Oak Park | $1,520/mo | $50.96/hr |
| 60305 | River Forest | $1,680/mo | $57.07/hr |
| 60402 | Berwyn | $1,360/mo | $44.84/hr |
| 60406 | Blue Island | $1,250/mo | $40.64/hr |
| 60409 | Calumet City | $1,370/mo | $45.22/hr |
| 60411 | Chicago Heights | $1,410/mo | $46.75/hr |
| 60412 | Chicago Heights | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60415 | Chicago Ridge | $1,440/mo | $47.90/hr |
| 60418 | Crestwood | $1,490/mo | $49.81/hr |
| 60419 | Dolton | $1,690/mo | $57.45/hr |
| 60422 | Flossmoor | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60425 | Glenwood | $1,810/mo | $62.04/hr |
| 60426 | Harvey | $1,230/mo | $39.87/hr |
| 60428 | Markham | $1,910/mo | $65.94/hr |
| 60429 | Hazel Crest | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60430 | Homewood | $1,640/mo | $55.54/hr |
| 60438 | Lansing | $1,490/mo | $49.81/hr |
| 60439 | Lemont | $1,380/mo | $45.60/hr |
| 60443 | Matteson | $1,860/mo | $63.97/hr |
| 60445 | Midlothian | $1,360/mo | $44.84/hr |
| 60452 | Oak Forest | $1,520/mo | $50.96/hr |
| 60453 | Oak Lawn | $1,540/mo | $51.72/hr |
| 60454 | Oak Lawn | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60455 | Bridgeview | $1,330/mo | $43.69/hr |
| 60456 | Hometown | $1,560/mo | $52.49/hr |
| 60457 | Hickory Hills | $1,270/mo | $41.40/hr |
| 60458 | Justice | $1,450/mo | $48.28/hr |
| 60459 | Burbank | $1,460/mo | $48.66/hr |
| 60461 | Olympia Fields | $2,000/mo | $69.49/hr |
| 60462 | Orland Park | $1,640/mo | $55.54/hr |
| 60463 | Palos Heights | $2,190/mo | $76.98/hr |
| 60464 | Palos Park | $1,750/mo | $59.75/hr |
| 60465 | Palos Hills | $1,490/mo | $49.81/hr |
| 60466 | Park Forest | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60467 | Orland Park | $2,400/mo | $85.26/hr |
| 60469 | Posen | $1,590/mo | $53.63/hr |
| 60471 | Richton Park | $1,570/mo | $52.87/hr |
| 60472 | Robbins | $1,690/mo | $57.45/hr |
| 60473 | South Holland | $2,240/mo | $78.95/hr |
| 60475 | Steger (partly) | $1,190/mo | $38.34/hr |
| 60476 | Thornton | $1,340/mo | $44.08/hr |
| 60477 | Tinley Park | $1,680/mo | $57.07/hr |
| 60478 | Country Club Hills | $2,030/mo | $70.67/hr |
| 60480 | Willow Springs | $1,680/mo | $57.07/hr |
| 60482 | Worth | $1,340/mo | $44.08/hr |
| 60484 | University Park (partly) | $1,890/mo | $65.15/hr |
| 60487 | Tinley Park | $1,640/mo | $55.54/hr |
| 60499 | Bedford Park | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60501 | Summit Argo | $1,280/mo | $41.78/hr |
| 60513 | Brookfield | $1,540/mo | $51.72/hr |
| 60521 | Hinsdale (partly) | $2,230/mo | $78.56/hr |
| 60525 | La Grange | $1,710/mo | $58.22/hr |
| 60526 | La Grange Park | $1,620/mo | $54.78/hr |
| 60527 | Willowbrook (partly) | $1,820/mo | $62.42/hr |
| 60534 | Lyons | $1,280/mo | $41.78/hr |
| 60546 | Riverside | $1,510/mo | $50.57/hr |
| 60558 | Western Springs | $2,260/mo | $79.74/hr |
| 60601 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60602 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60603 | Chicago | $2,470/mo | $88.02/hr |
| 60604 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60605 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60606 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60607 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60608 | Chicago | $1,440/mo | $47.90/hr |
| 60609 | Chicago | $1,250/mo | $40.64/hr |
| 60610 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60611 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60612 | Chicago | $1,780/mo | $60.90/hr |
| 60613 | Chicago | $2,430/mo | $86.45/hr |
| 60614 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60615 | Chicago | $2,040/mo | $71.07/hr |
| 60616 | Chicago | $1,890/mo | $65.15/hr |
| 60617 | Chicago | $1,270/mo | $41.40/hr |
| 60618 | Chicago | $1,940/mo | $67.12/hr |
| 60619 | Chicago | $1,370/mo | $45.22/hr |
| 60620 | Chicago | $1,370/mo | $45.22/hr |
| 60621 | Chicago | $1,280/mo | $41.78/hr |
| 60622 | Chicago | $2,340/mo | $82.90/hr |
| 60623 | Chicago | $1,280/mo | $41.78/hr |
| 60624 | Chicago | $1,440/mo | $47.90/hr |
| 60625 | Chicago | $1,990/mo | $69.10/hr |
| 60626 | Chicago | $1,900/mo | $65.55/hr |
| 60628 | Chicago | $1,420/mo | $47.13/hr |
| 60629 | Chicago | $1,310/mo | $42.93/hr |
| 60630 | Chicago | $1,740/mo | $59.37/hr |
| 60631 | Chicago | $1,830/mo | $62.81/hr |
| 60632 | Chicago | $1,250/mo | $40.64/hr |
| 60633 | Chicago | $1,350/mo | $44.46/hr |
| 60634 | Chicago | $1,610/mo | $54.40/hr |
| 60636 | Chicago | $1,350/mo | $44.46/hr |
| 60637 | Chicago | $1,450/mo | $48.28/hr |
| 60638 | Chicago | $1,530/mo | $51.34/hr |
| 60639 | Chicago | $1,470/mo | $49.05/hr |
| 60640 | Chicago | $2,170/mo | $76.19/hr |
| 60641 | Chicago | $1,640/mo | $55.54/hr |
| 60642 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60643 | Chicago | $1,570/mo | $52.87/hr |
| 60644 | Chicago | $1,370/mo | $45.22/hr |
| 60645 | Chicago | $1,790/mo | $61.28/hr |
| 60646 | Chicago | $1,600/mo | $54.01/hr |
| 60647 | Chicago | $2,140/mo | $75.01/hr |
| 60649 | Chicago | $1,430/mo | $47.52/hr |
| 60651 | Chicago | $1,440/mo | $47.90/hr |
| 60652 | Chicago | $1,570/mo | $52.87/hr |
| 60653 | Chicago | $1,260/mo | $41.02/hr |
| 60654 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60655 | Chicago | $1,680/mo | $57.07/hr |
| 60656 | Chicago | $1,640/mo | $55.54/hr |
| 60657 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60659 | Chicago | $1,740/mo | $59.37/hr |
| 60660 | Chicago | $2,090/mo | $73.04/hr |
| 60661 | Chicago | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60666 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60669 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60670 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60673 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60674 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60675 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60678 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60682 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60685 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60686 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60687 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60688 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60689 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60690 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60693 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60694 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60695 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60697 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60699 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60701 | Chicago | $1,650/mo | $55.93/hr |
| 60706 | Harwood Heights | $1,450/mo | $48.28/hr |
| 60707 | Elmwood Park | $1,550/mo | $52.10/hr |
| 60712 | Lincolnwood | $2,520/mo | $89.99/hr |
| 60714 | Niles | $1,460/mo | $48.66/hr |
| 60803 | Alsip | $1,300/mo | $42.55/hr |
| 60804 | Cicero | $1,410/mo | $46.75/hr |
| 60805 | Evergreen Park | $1,580/mo | $53.25/hr |
| 60827 | Riverdale | $1,340/mo | $44.08/hr |
Under the Four Times Rent standard, a full-time job in Cook County, Illinois needs to pay at least $55.93 an hour before taxes, about $116,326 a year. That leaves $6,600 a month after taxes, four times the typical $1,650 rent on a studio apartment.
The minimum wage here is $15.00 an hour (Illinois minimum wage). The standard is 3.7 times that. A full-time minimum-wage job takes home about $2,154 a month, 33% of the standard.
Take the typical monthly cost of a studio apartment, multiply by four, and divide by 160 hours of work a month. That's the take-home pay needed per hour. The pay before taxes is what it takes to keep that much after federal, state and local income taxes and Social Security and Medicare.
The idea behind the standard is laid out in Chapter 1: The Living Wage Revolution.