DeKalb, IL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In DeKalb, IL Summary

Cost of living in DeKalb research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means DeKalb is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Illinois, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in DeKalb is 93, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in DeKalb is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • DeKalb ranks as the #98 cheapest in Illinois out of 336.

  • DeKalb ranks as the #1,658 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in DeKalb is $229,636.

  • The median income in DeKalb is $46,564.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
93
DeKalb's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

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 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Illinois, DeKalb has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Illinois's index of 97.

The standard of living in DeKalb ranks as #98 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies DeKalb ranks as the #238 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in DeKalb, check out:

98 out of 336
In Illinois
1,658 out of 6,489
In America

DeKalb Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in DeKalb. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in DeKalb is 90.

  • The Groceries index in DeKalb is 98.

  • The Health index in DeKalb is 101.

  • The Housing index in DeKalb is 90.

  • The Transportation index in DeKalb is 112.

  • The Utilities index in DeKalb is 86.

Living Expense DeKalb Illinois National Average
Overall 93 97 100
Services 90 95 100
Groceries 98 99 100
Health 101 93 100
Housing 90 95 100
Transportation 112 102 100
Utilities 86 91 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
DeKalb Cost of Living Vs. IL

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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in DeKalb is $229,636.

  • The Median Rent in DeKalb is $1,030.

  • The Median Income in DeKalb is $46,564.

  • The Home Value To Income in DeKalb is 4.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in DeKalb is 0.27x.

Statistic DeKalb Illinois United States
Median Home Value $229,636 $283,508 $303,400
Median Rent $1,030 $1,227 $1,348
Median Income $46,564 $81,702 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.9x 3.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.27x 0.18x 0.21x
$229,636
Median Home Value
$1,030
Median Rent
$46,564
Median Income

DeKalb, IL Costs By Category

Detailed DeKalb Services Costs Vs. Illinois

Item DeKalb 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 DeKalb Groceries Costs Vs. Illinois

Item DeKalb 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 DeKalb Health Costs Vs. Illinois

Item DeKalb Illinois
Optometrist $79.67 $125.68
Doctor $158.33 $135.78
Dentist $110.16 $113.29

Detailed DeKalb Transportation Costs Vs. Illinois

Item DeKalb Illinois
Gasoline $3.69 $3.46
Tire Balancing $70.28 $59.92

Detailed DeKalb Utilities Costs Vs. Illinois

Item DeKalb Illinois
All Electricity $147.39 $193.99
Phone $198.03 $192.25

Dekalb SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
8
Affordability
5
Diversity
9
Safety
7
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
8.5

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 96, 1.0x DeKalb.

  • Campton Hills, IL has a cost of living index of 142, 1.5x DeKalb.

  • Rochelle, IL has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x DeKalb.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. DeKalb
Sycamore, IL 18,243 96 1.0x
Campton Hills, IL 10,724 142 1.5x
Rochelle, IL 9,477 88 0.9x
Sugar Grove, IL 9,233 115 1.2x
Hampshire, IL 8,351 110 1.2x
Elburn, IL 6,054 114 1.2x
Genoa, IL 5,685 90 1.0x

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