What is the cost of living in Melrose Park, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Melrose Park has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Melrose Park has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Melrose Park ranks as #179 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Melrose Park ranks as the #157 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Melrose Park, check out:
Melrose Park Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Melrose Park. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Melrose Park is 102.
The Groceries index in Melrose Park is 101.
The Health index in Melrose Park is 110.
The Housing index in Melrose Park is 102.
The Transportation index in Melrose Park is 97.
The Utilities index in Melrose Park is 95.
| Living Expense | Melrose Park | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 110 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
Melrose 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 Melrose Park Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Melrose 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 Melrose Park is $306,639.
The Median Rent in Melrose Park is $1,176.
The Median Income in Melrose Park is $66,189.
The Home Value To Income in Melrose Park is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Melrose Park is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Melrose Park | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $306,639 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,176 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,189 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Melrose Park, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Melrose Park Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Melrose 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 Melrose Park Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Melrose 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 Melrose Park Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Melrose Park | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Melrose Park Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Melrose Park | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Melrose Park Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Melrose Park | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
Melrose Park SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Melrose Park
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Melrose Park. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.4x Melrose Park.
Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 134, 1.3x Melrose Park.
Buffalo Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 126, 1.2x Melrose Park.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Melrose Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.4x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.3x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.3x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.5x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 1.4x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.5x |
| Elmwood Park, IL | 23,868 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Maywood, IL | 23,201 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Deerfield, IL | 19,518 | 148 | 1.4x |
