What is the cost of living in Elgin, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Elgin has an overall cost of living index of 105, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Elgin has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Elgin ranks as #186 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Elgin ranks as the #150 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Elgin, check out:
Elgin Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Elgin. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Elgin is 101.
The Groceries index in Elgin is 97.
The Health index in Elgin is 110.
The Housing index in Elgin is 101.
The Transportation index in Elgin is 102.
The Utilities index in Elgin is 104.
| Living Expense | Elgin | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 105 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 110 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | 100 |
Elgin 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 Elgin Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Elgin, 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 Elgin is $329,682.
The Median Rent in Elgin is $1,361.
The Median Income in Elgin is $90,282.
The Home Value To Income in Elgin is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Elgin is 0.18x.
Elgin, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Elgin Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Elgin Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Elgin Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Elgin Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Elgin SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Elgin
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Elgin. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Arlington Heights, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 1.2x Elgin.
Mount Prospect, IL has a cost of living index of 121, 1.2x Elgin.
Wheaton, IL has a cost of living index of 127, 1.2x Elgin.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Elgin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 1.2x |
| Mount Prospect, IL | 55,472 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Wheaton, IL | 53,557 | 127 | 1.2x |
| Hoffman Estates, IL | 51,175 | 118 | 1.1x |
| Bartlett, IL | 40,501 | 119 | 1.1x |
| Streamwood, IL | 39,001 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Carpentersville, IL | 37,346 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Glen Ellyn, IL | 28,390 | 137 | 1.3x |
| South Elgin, IL | 24,217 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Lake Zurich, IL | 19,832 | 122 | 1.2x |
