What is the cost of living in Chicago, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chicago has an overall cost of living index of 114, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Chicago has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Chicago ranks as #252 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Chicago ranks as the #84 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Chicago, check out:
Chicago Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chicago. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chicago is 103.
The Groceries index in Chicago is 99.
The Health index in Chicago is 140.
The Housing index in Chicago is 107.
The Transportation index in Chicago is 104.
The Utilities index in Chicago is 103.
| Living Expense | Chicago | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 114 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 140 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 101 | 100 |
Chicago 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 Chicago Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chicago, 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 Chicago is $317,282.
The Median Rent in Chicago is $1,440.
The Median Income in Chicago is $77,902.
The Home Value To Income in Chicago is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chicago is 0.22x.
Chicago, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Chicago Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Chicago Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Chicago Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Chicago Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Chicago SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chicago
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chicago. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Cicero, IL has a cost of living index of 99, 0.9x Chicago.
Berwyn, IL has a cost of living index of 108, 0.9x Chicago.
Oak Park, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 1.1x Chicago.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cicero, IL | 82,797 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Berwyn, IL | 55,595 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Oak Park, IL | 53,292 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.3x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.2x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.2x |
| Glen Ellyn, IL | 28,390 | 137 | 1.2x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.4x |
| Darien, IL | 21,879 | 120 | 1.1x |
| Hinsdale, IL | 17,175 | 191 | 1.7x |
