What is the cost of living in Berkeley, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Berkeley has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Berkeley has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Berkeley ranks as #153 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Berkeley ranks as the #183 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Berkeley, check out:
Berkeley Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Berkeley. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Berkeley is 102.
The Groceries index in Berkeley is 98.
The Health index in Berkeley is 99.
The Housing index in Berkeley is 104.
The Transportation index in Berkeley is 98.
The Utilities index in Berkeley is 100.
| Living Expense | Berkeley | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Berkeley 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 Berkeley Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Berkeley, 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 Berkeley is $292,137.
The Median Rent in Berkeley is $1,434.
The Median Income in Berkeley is $85,823.
The Home Value To Income in Berkeley is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Berkeley is 0.2x.
Berkeley, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Berkeley Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Berkeley Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Berkeley Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Berkeley Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Berkeley SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Berkeley
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Berkeley. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.4x Berkeley.
Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 134, 1.3x Berkeley.
Buffalo Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 126, 1.2x Berkeley.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Berkeley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.4x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.3x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.3x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.5x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.6x |
| Melrose Park, IL | 24,549 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Maywood, IL | 23,201 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Villa Park, IL | 22,345 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Deerfield, IL | 19,518 | 148 | 1.5x |
