What is the cost of living in Evanston, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Evanston has an overall cost of living index of 129, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Evanston has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Evanston ranks as #304 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Evanston ranks as the #32 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Evanston, check out:
Evanston Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Evanston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Evanston is 96.
The Groceries index in Evanston is 95.
The Health index in Evanston is 206.
The Housing index in Evanston is 99.
The Transportation index in Evanston is 103.
The Utilities index in Evanston is 104.
| Living Expense | Evanston | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 129 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 206 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | 100 |
Evanston 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 Evanston Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Evanston, 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 Evanston is $470,774.
The Median Rent in Evanston is $1,762.
The Median Income in Evanston is $96,434.
The Home Value To Income in Evanston is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Evanston is 0.22x.
Evanston, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Evanston Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Evanston Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Evanston Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Evanston Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Evanston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Evanston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Evanston. 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, 1.0x Evanston.
Skokie, IL has a cost of living index of 118, 0.9x Evanston.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.1x Evanston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Evanston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Skokie, IL | 66,219 | 118 | 0.9x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.1x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.0x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.2x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 1.1x |
| Niles, IL | 30,064 | 114 | 0.9x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.2x |
