McHenry, IL Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In McHenry, IL Summary

Cost of living in McHenry 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 McHenry 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 McHenry is 101, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in McHenry is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • McHenry ranks as the #152 cheapest in Illinois out of 336.

  • McHenry ranks as the #2,735 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in McHenry is $306,403.

  • The median income in McHenry is $86,865.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
101
McHenry's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in McHenry, IL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, McHenry has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Illinois, McHenry has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Illinois's index of 97.

The standard of living in McHenry ranks as #152 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies McHenry ranks as the #184 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in McHenry, check out:

152 out of 336
In Illinois
2,735 out of 6,489
In America

McHenry Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

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

  • The Services index in McHenry is 91.

  • The Groceries index in McHenry is 97.

  • The Health index in McHenry is 100.

  • The Housing index in McHenry is 115.

  • The Transportation index in McHenry is 110.

  • The Utilities index in McHenry is 86.

Living Expense McHenry Illinois National Average
Overall 101 97 100
Services 91 95 100
Groceries 97 99 100
Health 100 93 100
Housing 115 95 100
Transportation 110 102 100
Utilities 86 91 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
McHenry Cost of Living Vs. IL

McHenry, 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 McHenry is $306,403.

  • The Median Rent in McHenry is $1,508.

  • The Median Income in McHenry is $86,865.

  • The Home Value To Income in McHenry is 3.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in McHenry is 0.21x.

Statistic McHenry Illinois United States
Median Home Value $306,403 $283,508 $303,400
Median Rent $1,508 $1,227 $1,348
Median Income $86,865 $81,702 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.5x 3.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.18x 0.21x
$306,403
Median Home Value
$1,508
Median Rent
$86,865
Median Income

McHenry, IL Costs By Category

Detailed McHenry Services Costs Vs. Illinois

Item McHenry Illinois
Shampoo $1.27 $1.28
Movie $12.73 $12.13
Bowling $12.67 $18
Haircut $19.94 $24.26
Beauty Salon $36.22 $45.56

Detailed McHenry Groceries Costs Vs. Illinois

Item McHenry Illinois
Ground Beef $5.72 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.42 $1.57
Milk $4.63 $4.67
Potatoes $4.82 $4.93
Pizza $10.99 $12.09
Beer $9.56 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.58 $3.7

Detailed McHenry Health Costs Vs. Illinois

Item McHenry Illinois
Optometrist $79.67 $125.68
Doctor $158.33 $135.78
Dentist $110.16 $113.29

Detailed McHenry Transportation Costs Vs. Illinois

Item McHenry Illinois
Gasoline $3.69 $3.46
Tire Balancing $70.28 $59.92

Detailed McHenry Utilities Costs Vs. Illinois

Item McHenry Illinois
All Electricity $147.39 $193.99
Phone $198.03 $192.25

Mchenry SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
8.5
Amenities
8.5
Education
8
Commute
4

Cost Of Living In Cities Around McHenry

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

  • Palatine, IL has a cost of living index of 116, 1.1x McHenry.

  • Mundelein, IL has a cost of living index of 114, 1.1x McHenry.

  • Gurnee, IL has a cost of living index of 117, 1.2x McHenry.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. McHenry
Palatine, IL 66,548 116 1.1x
Mundelein, IL 31,632 114 1.1x
Gurnee, IL 30,486 117 1.2x
Vernon Hills, IL 26,772 125 1.2x
Libertyville, IL 20,493 135 1.3x
Lake Zurich, IL 19,727 127 1.3x
Lindenhurst, IL 14,365 114 1.1x
Hawthorn Woods, IL 9,145 167 1.7x
Long Grove, IL 8,266 178 1.8x
Johnsburg, IL 6,374 112 1.1x

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