What is the cost of living in Carol Stream, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Carol Stream has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Carol Stream has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Carol Stream ranks as #239 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Carol Stream ranks as the #97 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Carol Stream, check out:
Carol Stream Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carol Stream. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carol Stream is 103.
The Groceries index in Carol Stream is 100.
The Health index in Carol Stream is 142.
The Housing index in Carol Stream is 100.
The Transportation index in Carol Stream is 101.
The Utilities index in Carol Stream is 102.
| Living Expense | Carol Stream | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 142 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 101 | 100 |
Carol Stream 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 Carol Stream Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Carol Stream, 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 Carol Stream is $377,327.
The Median Rent in Carol Stream is $1,529.
The Median Income in Carol Stream is $102,309.
The Home Value To Income in Carol Stream is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carol Stream is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Carol Stream | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $377,327 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,529 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $102,309 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.7x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Carol Stream, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Carol Stream Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Carol Stream | 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 Carol Stream Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Carol Stream | 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 Carol Stream Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Carol Stream | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Carol Stream Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Carol Stream | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Carol Stream Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Carol Stream | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
Carol Stream SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Carol Stream
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Carol Stream. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Wheaton, IL has a cost of living index of 127, 1.1x Carol Stream.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.3x Carol Stream.
Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 134, 1.2x Carol Stream.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carol Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheaton, IL | 53,557 | 127 | 1.1x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.3x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.2x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.2x |
| Hanover Park, IL | 36,732 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Addison, IL | 35,489 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Glendale Heights, IL | 32,808 | 108 | 1.0x |
| Glen Ellyn, IL | 28,390 | 137 | 1.2x |
| West Chicago, IL | 25,395 | 108 | 1.0x |
