What is the cost of living in Downers Grove, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Downers Grove has an overall cost of living index of 124, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Downers Grove has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Downers Grove ranks as #290 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Downers Grove ranks as the #46 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Downers Grove, check out:
Downers Grove Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Downers Grove. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Downers Grove is 101.
The Groceries index in Downers Grove is 98.
The Health index in Downers Grove is 186.
The Housing index in Downers Grove is 101.
The Transportation index in Downers Grove is 97.
The Utilities index in Downers Grove is 101.
| Living Expense | Downers Grove | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 124 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 186 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Downers Grove 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 Downers Grove Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Downers Grove, 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 Downers Grove is $494,150.
The Median Rent in Downers Grove is $1,656.
The Median Income in Downers Grove is $115,114.
The Home Value To Income in Downers Grove is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Downers Grove is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Downers Grove | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $494,150 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,656 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $115,114 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Downers Grove, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Downers Grove Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Downers Grove | 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 Downers Grove Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Downers Grove | 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 Downers Grove Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Downers Grove | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $86.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $82.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Downers Grove Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Downers Grove | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.52 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $45.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Downers Grove Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Downers Grove | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $156.87 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $198.03 | $192.25 |
Downers Grove SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Downers Grove
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Downers Grove. 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 Downers Grove.
Wheaton, IL has a cost of living index of 127, 1.0x Downers Grove.
Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 134, 1.1x Downers Grove.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Downers Grove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naperville, IL | 150,692 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Wheaton, IL | 53,557 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Bartlett, IL | 40,501 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.1x |
| Woodridge, IL | 33,941 | 116 | 0.9x |
| Glen Ellyn, IL | 28,390 | 137 | 1.1x |
| Westmont, IL | 23,724 | 115 | 0.9x |
| Lisle, IL | 23,407 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Darien, IL | 21,879 | 120 | 1.0x |
