What is the cost of living in Northfield, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Northfield has an overall cost of living index of 175, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Northfield has a cost of living index that's 1.8x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Northfield ranks as #328 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Northfield ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Northfield, check out:
Northfield Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Northfield. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Northfield is 96.
The Groceries index in Northfield is 100.
The Health index in Northfield is 350.
The Housing index in Northfield is 100.
The Transportation index in Northfield is 95.
The Utilities index in Northfield is 101.
| Living Expense | Northfield | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 175 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 350 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Northfield 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 Northfield Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Northfield, 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 Northfield is $841,445.
The Median Rent in Northfield is $2,083.
The Median Income in Northfield is $161,500.
The Home Value To Income in Northfield is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Northfield is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Northfield | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $841,445 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,083 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $161,500 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Northfield, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Northfield Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Northfield | 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 Northfield Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Northfield | 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 Northfield Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Northfield | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Northfield Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Northfield | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Northfield Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Northfield | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
Northfield SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Northfield
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Northfield. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Skokie, IL has a cost of living index of 118, 0.7x Northfield.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 0.8x Northfield.
Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 134, 0.8x Northfield.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skokie, IL | 66,219 | 118 | 0.7x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 0.8x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 0.8x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 0.7x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 0.8x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 0.9x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 0.8x |
| Niles, IL | 30,064 | 114 | 0.7x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 0.9x |
| Morton Grove, IL | 24,619 | 128 | 0.7x |








