Highland Park, IL Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Highland Park, IL Summary

Cost of living in Highland Park 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 Highland Park 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 Highland Park is 148, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Highland Park is 1.5x higher than the national average.

  • Highland Park ranks as the #317 cheapest in Illinois out of 336.

  • Highland Park ranks as the #5,642 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Highland Park is $743,185.

  • The median income in Highland Park is $161,875.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
148
Highland Park's Overall Cost Of Living
1.5x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Highland Park, IL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Highland Park has an overall cost of living index of 148, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Illinois, Highland Park has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than Illinois's index of 97.

The standard of living in Highland Park ranks as #317 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Highland Park ranks as the #19 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in Highland Park, check out:

317 out of 336
In Illinois
5,642 out of 6,489
In America

Highland Park Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

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

  • The Services index in Highland Park is 105.

  • The Groceries index in Highland Park is 105.

  • The Health index in Highland Park is 108.

  • The Housing index in Highland Park is 256.

  • The Transportation index in Highland Park is 109.

  • The Utilities index in Highland Park is 89.

Living Expense Highland Park Illinois National Average
Overall 148 97 100
Services 105 95 100
Groceries 105 99 100
Health 108 93 100
Housing 256 95 100
Transportation 109 102 100
Utilities 89 91 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Highland Park Cost of Living Vs. IL

Highland Park, 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 Highland Park is $743,185.

  • The Median Rent in Highland Park is $1,903.

  • The Median Income in Highland Park is $161,875.

  • The Home Value To Income in Highland Park is 4.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Highland Park is 0.14x.

Statistic Highland Park Illinois United States
Median Home Value $743,185 $283,508 $303,400
Median Rent $1,903 $1,227 $1,348
Median Income $161,875 $81,702 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.6x 3.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.14x 0.18x 0.21x
$743,185
Median Home Value
$1,903
Median Rent
$161,875
Median Income

Highland Park, IL Costs By Category

Detailed Highland Park Services Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Highland Park 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 Highland Park Groceries Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Highland Park 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 Highland Park Health Costs Vs. Illinois

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

Detailed Highland Park Transportation Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Highland Park Illinois
Gasoline $3.56 $3.46
Tire Balancing $70.87 $59.92

Detailed Highland Park Utilities Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Highland Park Illinois
All Electricity $148.58 $193.99
Phone $210.03 $192.25

Highland Park SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
9.5
Affordability
8
Diversity
7
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
9.5
Commute
5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Highland Park

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Highland Park. 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 124, 0.8x Highland Park.

  • Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 149, 1.0x Highland Park.

  • Buffalo Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 0.8x Highland Park.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Highland Park
Arlington Heights, IL 76,220 124 0.8x
Glenview, IL 47,682 149 1.0x
Buffalo Grove, IL 42,824 125 0.8x
Park Ridge, IL 39,241 138 0.9x
Northbrook, IL 34,642 153 1.0x
Wilmette, IL 27,550 164 1.1x
Lake Zurich, IL 19,727 127 0.9x
Lake Forest, IL 19,190 181 1.2x
Deerfield, IL 19,185 148 1.0x
Winnetka, IL 12,508 215 1.5x

Articles About Illinois

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