Elmhurst, IL Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Elmhurst, IL Summary

Cost of living in Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst is 139, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Elmhurst is 1.4x higher than the national average.

  • Elmhurst ranks as the #312 cheapest in Illinois out of 336.

  • Elmhurst ranks as the #5,366 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Elmhurst is $588,338.

  • The median income in Elmhurst is $145,374.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
139
Elmhurst's Overall Cost Of Living
1.4x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Elmhurst, IL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Elmhurst has an overall cost of living index of 139, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Illinois, Elmhurst has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than Illinois's index of 97.

The standard of living in Elmhurst ranks as #312 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Elmhurst ranks as the #24 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in Elmhurst, check out:

312 out of 336
In Illinois
5,366 out of 6,489
In America

Elmhurst Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

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

  • The Services index in Elmhurst is 108.

  • The Groceries index in Elmhurst is 105.

  • The Health index in Elmhurst is 108.

  • The Housing index in Elmhurst is 213.

  • The Transportation index in Elmhurst is 105.

  • The Utilities index in Elmhurst is 91.

Living Expense Elmhurst Illinois National Average
Overall 139 97 100
Services 108 95 100
Groceries 105 99 100
Health 108 93 100
Housing 213 95 100
Transportation 105 102 100
Utilities 91 91 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Elmhurst Cost of Living Vs. IL

Elmhurst, 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 Elmhurst is $588,338.

  • The Median Rent in Elmhurst is $1,877.

  • The Median Income in Elmhurst is $145,374.

  • The Home Value To Income in Elmhurst is 4.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Elmhurst is 0.15x.

Statistic Elmhurst Illinois United States
Median Home Value $588,338 $283,508 $303,400
Median Rent $1,877 $1,227 $1,348
Median Income $145,374 $81,702 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.0x 3.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.15x 0.18x 0.21x
$588,338
Median Home Value
$1,877
Median Rent
$145,374
Median Income

Elmhurst, IL Costs By Category

Detailed Elmhurst Services Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Elmhurst Illinois
Shampoo $1.27 $1.28
Movie $17.91 $12.13
Bowling $24.58 $18
Haircut $33.69 $24.26
Beauty Salon $53.44 $45.56

Detailed Elmhurst Groceries Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Elmhurst Illinois
Ground Beef $5.28 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.42 $1.57
Milk $4.87 $4.67
Potatoes $4.9 $4.93
Pizza $13.41 $12.09
Beer $10.0 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.75 $3.7

Detailed Elmhurst Health Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Elmhurst Illinois
Optometrist $118.27 $125.68
Doctor $167.67 $135.78
Dentist $128.22 $113.29

Detailed Elmhurst Transportation Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Elmhurst Illinois
Gasoline $3.56 $3.46
Tire Balancing $70.87 $59.92

Detailed Elmhurst Utilities Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Elmhurst Illinois
All Electricity $148.58 $193.99
Phone $210.03 $192.25

Elmhurst SnackAbility

10
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
9
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
9
Amenities
9.5
Education
9.5
Commute
5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Elmhurst

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Elmhurst. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 149, 1.1x Elmhurst.

  • Lombard, IL has a cost of living index of 119, 0.9x Elmhurst.

  • Buffalo Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 0.9x Elmhurst.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Elmhurst
Glenview, IL 47,682 149 1.1x
Lombard, IL 43,722 119 0.9x
Buffalo Grove, IL 42,824 125 0.9x
Park Ridge, IL 39,241 138 1.0x
Addison, IL 35,470 110 0.8x
Northbrook, IL 34,642 153 1.1x
Glen Ellyn, IL 28,270 135 1.0x
Wilmette, IL 27,550 164 1.2x
Melrose Park, IL 24,513 108 0.8x
Villa Park, IL 22,456 113 0.8x

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