Carol Stream, IL Cost Of Living

The latest cost of living statistics for Carol Stream. Includes statistics on rent, mortgages, healthcare, and other costs for Carol Stream compared to the state and national averages.

Cost of living in Carol Stream, Illinois

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:

112 Cost of living index 1.1x higher vs US
#239 Cheapest in Illinois (of 336)
#3,724 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$377,327 Median home value
$1,529 Median rent
$102,309 Median income
Not sure Carol Stream fits your budget? Try our place-match quiz →

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

Services
Carol Stream 103
Illinois avg 99
Groceries
Carol Stream 100
Illinois avg 99
Health
Carol Stream 142
Illinois avg 96
Housing
Carol Stream 100
Illinois avg 101
Transportation
Carol Stream 101
Illinois avg 99
Utilities
Carol Stream 102
Illinois avg 101

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

$377,327Median Home Value
$1,529Median Rent
$102,309Median Income

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

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

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