What is the cost of living in North Chicago, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, North Chicago has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, North Chicago has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in North Chicago ranks as #114 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies North Chicago ranks as the #222 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in North Chicago, check out:
North Chicago Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in North Chicago. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in North Chicago is 101.
The Groceries index in North Chicago is 101.
The Health index in North Chicago is 79.
The Housing index in North Chicago is 102.
The Transportation index in North Chicago is 101.
The Utilities index in North Chicago is 104.
| Living Expense | North Chicago | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 79 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | 100 |
North Chicago 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 North Chicago Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
North Chicago, 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 North Chicago is $210,403.
The Median Rent in North Chicago is $1,426.
The Median Income in North Chicago is $60,172.
The Home Value To Income in North Chicago is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in North Chicago is 0.28x.
| Statistic | North Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $210,403 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,426 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $60,172 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
North Chicago, IL Costs By Category
Detailed North Chicago Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | North Chicago | 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 North Chicago Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | North Chicago | 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 North Chicago Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | North Chicago | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed North Chicago Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | North Chicago | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed North Chicago Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | North Chicago | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
North Chicago SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around North Chicago
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around North Chicago. 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, 1.0x North Chicago.
Arlington Heights, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 1.3x North Chicago.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.5x North Chicago.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. North Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waukegan, IL | 89,076 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 1.3x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.5x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 1.3x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.6x |
| Gurnee, IL | 30,510 | 111 | 1.2x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 1.5x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.7x |
| Libertyville, IL | 20,525 | 133 | 1.4x |
| Lake Zurich, IL | 19,832 | 122 | 1.3x |
