Cost of Living in Illinois
Updated November 2026 · population 12,694,798
Illinois prices are equal to the US average (index 100.0), ranking 19th most expensive of 51 states and DC; utilities is the biggest saving at 85.0, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $2,643 a month.
Prices by category
Illinois price index by category, US average = 100: All items 100.0, Housing (rents) 93.9, Goods 103.8, Utilities 85.0, Other services 100.2
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| Illinois (whole state) | 100.0 |
| Metropolitan areas of Illinois | 101.5 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of Illinois | 87.4 |
Cities in Illinois
Select a column heading to sort.
| Chicago | 2,711,226 | 103.9 | $2,862 | $5,408 | $1,440 | $334,100 |
| Aurora | 179,898 | 106.1 | $2,825 | $5,675 | $1,596 | $274,800 |
| Naperville | 150,692 | 110.0 | $3,249 | $6,305 | $1,885 | $540,200 |
| Joliet | 150,445 | 101.7 | $2,459 | $5,337 | $1,276 | $265,800 |
| Rockford | 147,521 | 91.4 | $2,172 | $4,649 | $985 | $129,000 |
| Elgin | 114,934 | 102.9 | $2,681 | $5,480 | $1,361 | $273,000 |
| Springfield | 113,330 | 91.8 | $2,207 | $4,679 | $975 | $162,100 |
| Peoria | 112,169 | 91.4 | $2,191 | $4,599 | $1,005 | $156,200 |
| Champaign | 89,996 | 93.1 | $2,430 | $4,863 | $1,123 | $210,900 |
| Waukegan | 89,076 | 100.8 | $2,581 | $5,241 | $1,205 | $190,900 |
| Cicero | 82,797 | 100.1 | $2,519 | $5,169 | $1,154 | $249,400 |
| Bloomington | 78,907 | 93.5 | $2,242 | $4,908 | $1,050 | $203,300 |
| Schaumburg | 76,868 | 109.0 | $3,203 | $6,104 | $1,812 | $330,400 |
| Evanston | 76,340 | 108.3 | $3,147 | $5,987 | $1,762 | $481,200 |
| Arlington Heights | 76,005 | 108.3 | $3,210 | $6,367 | $1,760 | $414,500 |
| Bolingbrook | 74,096 | 108.1 | $3,025 | $5,948 | $1,749 | $314,700 |
| Decatur | 69,815 | 89.4 | $2,106 | $4,454 | $845 | $99,600 |
| Palatine | 66,293 | 105.4 | $2,911 | $5,780 | $1,549 | $355,600 |
| Skokie | 66,219 | 105.5 | $2,871 | $5,889 | $1,552 | $387,200 |
| Des Plaines | 59,156 | 106.2 | $2,857 | $5,666 | $1,606 | $335,600 |
| Orland Park | 57,916 | 103.9 | $2,933 | $5,757 | $1,440 | $367,200 |
| Oak Lawn | 56,861 | 102.5 | $2,835 | $5,644 | $1,335 | $281,200 |
| Berwyn | 55,595 | 100.9 | $2,571 | $5,441 | $1,215 | $299,800 |
| Mount Prospect | 55,472 | 104.8 | $3,008 | $5,996 | $1,502 | $397,400 |
| Tinley Park | 54,842 | 104.7 | $2,969 | $6,015 | $1,495 | $299,900 |
| Normal | 53,569 | 92.3 | $2,384 | $4,669 | $965 | $213,600 |
| Wheaton | 53,557 | 108.8 | $3,340 | $6,154 | $1,799 | $455,700 |
| Oak Park | 53,292 | 106.0 | $2,979 | $6,081 | $1,593 | $465,500 |
| Hoffman Estates | 51,175 | 107.9 | $2,864 | $6,190 | $1,734 | $351,900 |
| Downers Grove | 50,054 | 106.9 | $3,013 | $6,266 | $1,656 | $449,800 |
| Moline | 42,197 | 88.4 | $2,219 | $4,698 | $900 | $146,300 |
| Urbana | 39,341 | 91.2 | $2,338 | $4,854 | $972 | $184,900 |
Metro areas in Illinois
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 103.6 | 112.0 |
| Kankakee, IL | 96.4 | 92.9 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 95.1 | 79.0 |
| Bloomington, IL | 93.5 | 74.7 |
| Springfield, IL | 92.7 | 71.6 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 92.7 | 71.6 |
| Rockford, IL | 92.2 | 70.1 |
| Peoria, IL | 91.2 | 63.8 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 89.1 | 68.3 |
| Decatur, IL | 88.4 | 56.2 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 86.1 | 48.8 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 86.1 | 56.4 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of Illinois.
Modelled monthly budget at Illinois average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Illinois (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $974 | $11,688 | 37% |
| Utilities | $225 | $2,700 | 9% |
| Food at home | $293 | $3,516 | 11% |
| Transportation | $627 | $7,524 | 24% |
| Health care | $352 | $4,224 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $172 | $2,064 | 7% |
| Total | $2,643 | $31,716 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Illinois (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,116 | $13,392 | 26% |
| Utilities | $358 | $4,296 | 8% |
| Food at home | $541 | $6,492 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,241 | $14,892 | 29% |
| Health care | $652 | $7,824 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $339 | $4,068 | 8% |
| Total | $4,247 | $50,964 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Illinois (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,286 | $15,432 | 25% |
| Utilities | $435 | $5,220 | 8% |
| Food at home | $771 | $9,252 | 15% |
| Transportation | $1,650 | $19,800 | 32% |
| Health care | $608 | $7,296 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $437 | $5,244 | 8% |
| Total | $5,187 | $62,244 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
19.32¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +7.2% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline regional figure: Midwest (PADD 2)
$4.10/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +45.0% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the Midwest region rose +4.2% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 99.5 | 100.3 | 101.3 | 101.2 | 98.8 | 100.0 |
Change over the period: +0.5 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is Illinois an expensive state to live in?
Illinois has a cost of living index of 100.0 (US = 100), equal to the US average. It ranks 19th of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 93.9 (rank 21), goods 103.8, utilities 85.0 and other services 100.2. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in Illinois?
At Illinois state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $2,643 for a single adult, $4,247 for a couple and $5,187 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 101.5 and nonmetro areas 87.4.
What is the median rent and home value in Illinois?
The median gross rent in Illinois is $1,274 a month and the median home value is $263,300 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 29.1% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 17.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2), 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, Midwest region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology