Buffalo Grove, IL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Buffalo Grove, IL Summary

Cost of living in Buffalo Grove research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Buffalo Grove is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Illinois, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Buffalo Grove is 125, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Buffalo Grove is 1.2x higher than the national average.

  • Buffalo Grove ranks as the #291 cheapest in Illinois out of 336.

  • Buffalo Grove ranks as the #4,715 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Buffalo Grove is $436,992.

  • The median income in Buffalo Grove is $129,820.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
125
Buffalo Grove's Overall Cost Of Living
1.2x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Buffalo Grove, IL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Buffalo Grove has an overall cost of living index of 125, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Illinois, Buffalo Grove has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Illinois's index of 97.

The standard of living in Buffalo Grove ranks as #291 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Buffalo Grove ranks as the #45 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in Buffalo Grove, check out:

291 out of 336
In Illinois
4,715 out of 6,489
In America

Buffalo Grove Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Buffalo Grove. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Buffalo Grove is 105.

  • The Groceries index in Buffalo Grove is 105.

  • The Health index in Buffalo Grove is 110.

  • The Housing index in Buffalo Grove is 183.

  • The Transportation index in Buffalo Grove is 109.

  • The Utilities index in Buffalo Grove is 91.

Living Expense Buffalo Grove Illinois National Average
Overall 125 97 100
Services 105 95 100
Groceries 105 99 100
Health 110 93 100
Housing 183 95 100
Transportation 109 102 100
Utilities 91 91 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Buffalo Grove Cost of Living Vs. IL

Buffalo Grove, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Buffalo Grove is $436,992.

  • The Median Rent in Buffalo Grove is $2,042.

  • The Median Income in Buffalo Grove is $129,820.

  • The Home Value To Income in Buffalo Grove is 3.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Buffalo Grove is 0.19x.

Statistic Buffalo Grove Illinois United States
Median Home Value $436,992 $283,508 $303,400
Median Rent $2,042 $1,227 $1,348
Median Income $129,820 $81,702 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.4x 3.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.19x 0.18x 0.21x
$436,992
Median Home Value
$2,042
Median Rent
$129,820
Median Income

Buffalo Grove, IL Costs By Category

Detailed Buffalo Grove Services Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Buffalo Grove 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 Buffalo Grove Groceries Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Buffalo Grove 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 Buffalo Grove Health Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Buffalo Grove Illinois
Optometrist $118.27 $125.68
Doctor $167.67 $135.78
Dentist $128.22 $113.29

Detailed Buffalo Grove Transportation Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Buffalo Grove Illinois
Gasoline $3.56 $3.46
Tire Balancing $70.87 $59.92

Detailed Buffalo Grove Utilities Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Buffalo Grove Illinois
All Electricity $148.58 $193.99
Phone $210.03 $192.25

Buffalo Grove SnackAbility

10
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
9/10
Housing
9
Affordability
8
Diversity
8.5
Safety
10
Amenities
9.5
Education
9.5
Commute
5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Buffalo Grove

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Buffalo Grove. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Arlington Heights, IL has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Buffalo Grove.

  • Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 149, 1.2x Buffalo Grove.

  • Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 139, 1.1x Buffalo Grove.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Buffalo Grove
Arlington Heights, IL 76,220 124 1.0x
Glenview, IL 47,682 149 1.2x
Elmhurst, IL 45,538 139 1.1x
Park Ridge, IL 39,241 138 1.1x
Wheeling, IL 38,495 108 0.9x
Northbrook, IL 34,642 153 1.2x
Highland Park, IL 30,229 148 1.2x
Wilmette, IL 27,550 164 1.3x
Vernon Hills, IL 26,772 125 1.0x
Lake Zurich, IL 19,727 127 1.0x

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