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 144, which is 1.4x 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 98.
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:
Highland Park Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Highland Park. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Highland Park is 99.
The Groceries index in Highland Park is 99.
The Health index in Highland Park is 258.
The Housing index in Highland Park is 100.
The Transportation index in Highland Park is 102.
The Utilities index in Highland Park is 98.
| Living Expense | Highland Park | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 144 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 258 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Highland Park 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 Highland Park Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Highland Park is $751,000.
The Median Rent in Highland Park is $1,925.
The Median Income in Highland Park is $168,094.
The Home Value To Income in Highland Park is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Highland Park is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Highland Park | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $751,000 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,925 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $168,094 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
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
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 125, 0.9x Highland Park.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.0x Highland Park.
Buffalo Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 126, 0.9x Highland Park.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Highland Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 0.9x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.0x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 0.9x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 0.9x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.0x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.1x |
| Lake Zurich, IL | 19,832 | 122 | 0.8x |
| Deerfield, IL | 19,518 | 148 | 1.0x |
| Lake Forest, IL | 19,416 | 180 | 1.2x |
| Winnetka, IL | 12,484 | 216 | 1.5x |
