What is the cost of living in Cary, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cary has an overall cost of living index of 109, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Cary has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Cary ranks as #215 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Cary ranks as the #121 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Cary, check out:
Cary Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cary. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cary is 102.
The Groceries index in Cary is 100.
The Health index in Cary is 137.
The Housing index in Cary is 102.
The Transportation index in Cary is 101.
The Utilities index in Cary is 100.
| Living Expense | Cary | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 109 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 137 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Cary 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 Cary Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Cary, 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 Cary is $368,572.
The Median Rent in Cary is $1,428.
The Median Income in Cary is $113,026.
The Home Value To Income in Cary is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cary is 0.15x.
Cary, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Cary Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Cary Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Cary Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Cary Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Cary SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cary
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cary. 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, 1.1x Cary.
Mount Prospect, IL has a cost of living index of 121, 1.1x Cary.
Buffalo Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 126, 1.2x Cary.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Mount Prospect, IL | 55,472 | 121 | 1.1x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Crystal Lake, IL | 40,579 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Bartlett, IL | 40,501 | 119 | 1.1x |
| Algonquin, IL | 30,067 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Lake in the Hills, IL | 28,800 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Vernon Hills, IL | 26,876 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Libertyville, IL | 20,525 | 133 | 1.2x |
| Lake Zurich, IL | 19,832 | 122 | 1.1x |
