Carol Stream, IL Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Carol Stream, IL Summary

Cost of living in Carol Stream 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 Carol Stream 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 Carol Stream is 114, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Carol Stream is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Carol Stream ranks as the #246 cheapest in Illinois out of 336.

  • Carol Stream ranks as the #4,023 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Carol Stream is $372,327.

  • The median income in Carol Stream is $105,395.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
114
Carol Stream's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

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 114, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Illinois, Carol Stream has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Illinois's index of 97.

The standard of living in Carol Stream ranks as #246 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Carol Stream ranks as the #90 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in Carol Stream, check out:

246 out of 336
In Illinois
4,023 out of 6,489
In America

Carol Stream Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

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

  • The Services index in Carol Stream is 109.

  • The Groceries index in Carol Stream is 103.

  • The Health index in Carol Stream is 106.

  • The Housing index in Carol Stream is 139.

  • The Transportation index in Carol Stream is 109.

  • The Utilities index in Carol Stream is 88.

Living Expense Carol Stream Illinois National Average
Overall 114 97 100
Services 109 95 100
Groceries 103 99 100
Health 106 93 100
Housing 139 95 100
Transportation 109 102 100
Utilities 88 91 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Carol Stream Cost of Living Vs. IL

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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Carol Stream is $372,327.

  • The Median Rent in Carol Stream is $1,465.

  • The Median Income in Carol Stream is $105,395.

  • The Home Value To Income in Carol Stream is 3.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Carol Stream is 0.17x.

Statistic Carol Stream Illinois United States
Median Home Value $372,327 $283,508 $303,400
Median Rent $1,465 $1,227 $1,348
Median Income $105,395 $81,702 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.5x 3.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.18x 0.21x
$372,327
Median Home Value
$1,465
Median Rent
$105,395
Median Income

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

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

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 128, 1.1x Carol Stream.

  • Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 149, 1.3x Carol Stream.

  • Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 139, 1.2x Carol Stream.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Carol Stream
Wheaton, IL 53,453 128 1.1x
Glenview, IL 47,682 149 1.3x
Elmhurst, IL 45,538 139 1.2x
Buffalo Grove, IL 42,824 125 1.1x
Park Ridge, IL 39,241 138 1.2x
Hanover Park, IL 36,850 109 1.0x
Addison, IL 35,470 110 1.0x
Glendale Heights, IL 32,864 106 0.9x
Glen Ellyn, IL 28,270 135 1.2x
West Chicago, IL 25,434 112 1.0x

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