What is the cost of living in Lake Bluff, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lake Bluff has an overall cost of living index of 167, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Lake Bluff has a cost of living index that's 1.7x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Lake Bluff ranks as #325 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Lake Bluff ranks as the #11 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Lake Bluff, check out:
Lake Bluff Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lake Bluff. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lake Bluff is 100.
The Groceries index in Lake Bluff is 99.
The Health index in Lake Bluff is 318.
The Housing index in Lake Bluff is 103.
The Transportation index in Lake Bluff is 99.
The Utilities index in Lake Bluff is 105.
| Living Expense | Lake Bluff | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 167 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 318 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 101 | 100 |
Lake Bluff 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 Lake Bluff Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lake Bluff, 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 Lake Bluff is $633,529.
The Median Rent in Lake Bluff is $2,063.
The Median Income in Lake Bluff is $204,000.
The Home Value To Income in Lake Bluff is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lake Bluff is 0.12x.
| Statistic | Lake Bluff | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $633,529 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,063 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $204,000 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.1x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.12x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Lake Bluff, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Lake Bluff Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Lake Bluff | 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 Lake Bluff Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Lake Bluff | 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 Lake Bluff Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Lake Bluff | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lake Bluff Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Lake Bluff | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lake Bluff Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Lake Bluff | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
Lake Bluff SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lake Bluff
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lake Bluff. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Waukegan, IL has a cost of living index of 96, 0.6x Lake Bluff.
Arlington Heights, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 0.7x Lake Bluff.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 0.9x Lake Bluff.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lake Bluff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waukegan, IL | 89,076 | 96 | 0.6x |
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 0.7x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 0.9x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 0.8x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 0.8x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 0.9x |
| North Chicago, IL | 30,643 | 96 | 0.6x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 0.9x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.0x |
| Libertyville, IL | 20,525 | 133 | 0.8x |
