What is the cost of living in Arlington Heights, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Arlington Heights has an overall cost of living index of 125, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Arlington Heights has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Arlington Heights ranks as #293 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Arlington Heights ranks as the #43 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Arlington Heights, check out:
Arlington Heights Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Arlington Heights. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Arlington Heights is 98.
The Groceries index in Arlington Heights is 99.
The Health index in Arlington Heights is 185.
The Housing index in Arlington Heights is 101.
The Transportation index in Arlington Heights is 97.
The Utilities index in Arlington Heights is 99.
| Living Expense | Arlington Heights | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 125 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 185 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
Arlington Heights Cost Of Living Compared To Illinois Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Arlington Heights Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Arlington Heights, IL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Illinois, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Arlington Heights is $470,944.
The Median Rent in Arlington Heights is $1,760.
The Median Income in Arlington Heights is $116,723.
The Home Value To Income in Arlington Heights is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Arlington Heights is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Arlington Heights | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $470,944 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,760 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $116,723 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.0x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Arlington Heights, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Arlington Heights Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Arlington Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $17.91 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.58 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.69 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.44 | $45.56 |
Detailed Arlington Heights Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Arlington Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.28 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.87 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.9 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.41 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.0 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Arlington Heights Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Arlington Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Arlington Heights Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Arlington Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Arlington Heights Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Arlington Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
Arlington Heights SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Arlington Heights
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Arlington Heights. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Schaumburg, IL has a cost of living index of 115, 0.9x Arlington Heights.
Palatine, IL has a cost of living index of 113, 0.9x Arlington Heights.
Des Plaines, IL has a cost of living index of 110, 0.9x Arlington Heights.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Arlington Heights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schaumburg, IL | 76,868 | 115 | 0.9x |
| Palatine, IL | 66,293 | 113 | 0.9x |
| Des Plaines, IL | 59,156 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Mount Prospect, IL | 55,472 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.2x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.1x |
| Wheeling, IL | 38,433 | 103 | 0.8x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.2x |
