What is the cost of living in Darien, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Darien has an overall cost of living index of 120, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Darien has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Darien ranks as #280 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Darien ranks as the #56 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Darien, check out:
Darien Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Darien. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Darien is 100.
The Groceries index in Darien is 103.
The Health index in Darien is 176.
The Housing index in Darien is 97.
The Transportation index in Darien is 97.
The Utilities index in Darien is 95.
| Living Expense | Darien | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 120 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 176 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
Darien 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 Darien Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Darien, 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 Darien is $449,622.
The Median Rent in Darien is $1,857.
The Median Income in Darien is $111,215.
The Home Value To Income in Darien is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Darien is 0.2x.
Darien, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Darien Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Darien Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Darien Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Darien Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Darien SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Darien
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Darien. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Naperville, IL has a cost of living index of 133, 1.1x Darien.
Wheaton, IL has a cost of living index of 127, 1.1x Darien.
Downers Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Darien.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Darien |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naperville, IL | 150,692 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Wheaton, IL | 53,557 | 127 | 1.1x |
| Downers Grove, IL | 50,054 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.1x |
| Woodridge, IL | 33,941 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Glen Ellyn, IL | 28,390 | 137 | 1.1x |
| Westmont, IL | 23,724 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Lisle, IL | 23,407 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Lemont, IL | 17,820 | 123 | 1.0x |
