What is the cost of living in Barrington, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Barrington has an overall cost of living index of 138, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Barrington has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Barrington ranks as #314 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Barrington ranks as the #22 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Barrington, check out:
Barrington Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Barrington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Barrington is 102.
The Groceries index in Barrington is 96.
The Health index in Barrington is 227.
The Housing index in Barrington is 100.
The Transportation index in Barrington is 99.
The Utilities index in Barrington is 96.
| Living Expense | Barrington | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 138 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 227 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Barrington 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 Barrington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Barrington, 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 Barrington is $613,360.
The Median Rent in Barrington is $1,500.
The Median Income in Barrington is $147,989.
The Home Value To Income in Barrington is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Barrington is 0.12x.
| Statistic | Barrington | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $613,360 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,500 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $147,989 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.1x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.12x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Barrington, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Barrington Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Barrington | 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 Barrington Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Barrington | 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 Barrington Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Barrington | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Barrington Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Barrington | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Barrington Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Barrington | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
Barrington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Barrington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Barrington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Palatine, IL has a cost of living index of 113, 0.8x Barrington.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.1x Barrington.
Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 134, 1.0x Barrington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palatine, IL | 66,293 | 113 | 0.8x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.1x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.0x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 0.9x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.1x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 1.0x |
| Lake Zurich, IL | 19,832 | 122 | 0.9x |
| Deerfield, IL | 19,518 | 148 | 1.1x |
| Winfield, IL | 10,095 | 128 | 0.9x |
