What is the cost of living in DeKalb, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, DeKalb has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, DeKalb has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in DeKalb ranks as #135 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies DeKalb ranks as the #201 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in DeKalb, check out:
DeKalb Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in DeKalb. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in DeKalb is 100.
The Groceries index in DeKalb is 100.
The Health index in DeKalb is 90.
The Housing index in DeKalb is 103.
The Transportation index in DeKalb is 99.
The Utilities index in DeKalb is 103.
| Living Expense | DeKalb | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 90 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 101 | 100 |
DeKalb 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 DeKalb Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
DeKalb, 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 DeKalb is $222,142.
The Median Rent in DeKalb is $1,029.
The Median Income in DeKalb is $46,481.
The Home Value To Income in DeKalb is 4.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in DeKalb is 0.27x.
DeKalb, IL Costs By Category
Detailed DeKalb Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed DeKalb Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed DeKalb Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed DeKalb Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Dekalb SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around DeKalb
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around DeKalb. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sycamore, IL has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x DeKalb.
Campton Hills, IL has a cost of living index of 143, 1.4x DeKalb.
Rochelle, IL has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x DeKalb.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. DeKalb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sycamore, IL | 18,559 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Campton Hills, IL | 10,877 | 143 | 1.4x |
| Rochelle, IL | 9,529 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Sugar Grove, IL | 9,240 | 118 | 1.2x |
| Hampshire, IL | 8,524 | 115 | 1.2x |
| Elburn, IL | 6,354 | 116 | 1.2x |
| Genoa, IL | 5,492 | 96 | 1.0x |
