What is the cost of living in Crystal Lake, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Crystal Lake has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Crystal Lake has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Crystal Lake ranks as #203 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Crystal Lake ranks as the #133 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Crystal Lake, check out:
Crystal Lake Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Crystal Lake. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Crystal Lake is 100.
The Groceries index in Crystal Lake is 102.
The Health index in Crystal Lake is 124.
The Housing index in Crystal Lake is 98.
The Transportation index in Crystal Lake is 99.
The Utilities index in Crystal Lake is 98.
| Living Expense | Crystal Lake | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 107 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 124 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Crystal Lake 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 Crystal Lake Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Crystal Lake, 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 Crystal Lake is $374,459.
The Median Rent in Crystal Lake is $1,468.
The Median Income in Crystal Lake is $108,418.
The Home Value To Income in Crystal Lake is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Crystal Lake is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Crystal Lake | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $374,459 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,468 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $108,418 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Crystal Lake, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Crystal Lake Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Crystal Lake | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.73 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $12.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $36.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed Crystal Lake Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Crystal Lake | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.72 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.82 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.99 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.56 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.58 | $3.7 |
Detailed Crystal Lake Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Crystal Lake | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $79.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $158.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $110.16 | $113.29 |
Detailed Crystal Lake Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Crystal Lake | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.69 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.28 | $59.92 |
Detailed Crystal Lake Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Crystal Lake | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $147.39 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $198.03 | $192.25 |
Crystal Lake SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Crystal Lake
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Crystal Lake. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Palatine, IL has a cost of living index of 113, 1.1x Crystal Lake.
Hoffman Estates, IL has a cost of living index of 118, 1.1x Crystal Lake.
Buffalo Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 126, 1.2x Crystal Lake.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Crystal Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palatine, IL | 66,293 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Hoffman Estates, IL | 51,175 | 118 | 1.1x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Bartlett, IL | 40,501 | 119 | 1.1x |
| Mundelein, IL | 31,915 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Algonquin, IL | 30,067 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Lake in the Hills, IL | 28,800 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Vernon Hills, IL | 26,876 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Libertyville, IL | 20,525 | 133 | 1.2x |
| Lake Zurich, IL | 19,832 | 122 | 1.1x |
