What is the cost of living in Chicago Heights, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chicago Heights has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Chicago Heights has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Chicago Heights ranks as #88 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Chicago Heights ranks as the #248 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Chicago Heights, check out:
Chicago Heights Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chicago Heights. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chicago Heights is 101.
The Groceries index in Chicago Heights is 100.
The Health index in Chicago Heights is 71.
The Housing index in Chicago Heights is 102.
The Transportation index in Chicago Heights is 98.
The Utilities index in Chicago Heights is 100.
| Living Expense | Chicago Heights | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 71 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Chicago Heights 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 Heights Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chicago Heights, 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 Heights is $166,838.
The Median Rent in Chicago Heights is $1,038.
The Median Income in Chicago Heights is $54,798.
The Home Value To Income in Chicago Heights is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chicago Heights is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Chicago Heights | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $166,838 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,038 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $54,798 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.0x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Chicago Heights, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Chicago Heights Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Chicago Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.32 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.99 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $37.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed Chicago Heights Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Chicago Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.94 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.08 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.61 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Chicago Heights Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Chicago Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $86.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $82.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chicago Heights Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Chicago Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.52 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $45.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chicago Heights Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Chicago Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $156.87 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $198.03 | $192.25 |
Chicago Heights SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chicago Heights
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chicago Heights. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Orland Park, IL has a cost of living index of 114, 1.2x Chicago Heights.
Tinley Park, IL has a cost of living index of 111, 1.2x Chicago Heights.
Oak Forest, IL has a cost of living index of 106, 1.2x Chicago Heights.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chicago Heights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orland Park, IL | 57,916 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Tinley Park, IL | 54,842 | 111 | 1.2x |
| Oak Forest, IL | 26,805 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Homer Glen, IL | 24,529 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Park Forest, IL | 21,156 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Mokena, IL | 20,021 | 117 | 1.3x |
| Homewood, IL | 19,294 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Palos Hills, IL | 18,081 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Palos Heights, IL | 12,152 | 120 | 1.3x |
| Frankfort Square, IL | 9,560 | 110 | 1.2x |








