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 126, which is 1.3x 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 98.
The standard of living in Buffalo Grove ranks as #297 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Buffalo Grove ranks as the #39 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Buffalo Grove, check out:
Buffalo Grove Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Buffalo Grove. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Buffalo Grove is 100.
The Groceries index in Buffalo Grove is 98.
The Health index in Buffalo Grove is 182.
The Housing index in Buffalo Grove is 104.
The Transportation index in Buffalo Grove is 101.
The Utilities index in Buffalo Grove is 103.
| Living Expense | Buffalo Grove | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 126 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 182 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 101 | 100 |
Buffalo Grove 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 Buffalo Grove Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Buffalo Grove is $436,990.
The Median Rent in Buffalo Grove is $2,037.
The Median Income in Buffalo Grove is $129,395.
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 | $436,990 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,037 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $129,395 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
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
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 125, 1.0x Buffalo Grove.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.2x Buffalo Grove.
Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 134, 1.1x Buffalo Grove.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Buffalo Grove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.2x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.1x |
| Wheeling, IL | 38,433 | 103 | 0.8x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.2x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 1.1x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.3x |
| Vernon Hills, IL | 26,876 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Lake Zurich, IL | 19,832 | 122 | 1.0x |
