What is the cost of living in Oak Forest, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Oak Forest has an overall cost of living index of 106, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Oak Forest has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Oak Forest ranks as #194 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Oak Forest ranks as the #142 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Oak Forest, check out:
Oak Forest Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Oak Forest. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Oak Forest is 103.
The Groceries index in Oak Forest is 98.
The Health index in Oak Forest is 111.
The Housing index in Oak Forest is 106.
The Transportation index in Oak Forest is 101.
The Utilities index in Oak Forest is 104.
| Living Expense | Oak Forest | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 106 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 111 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 106 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | 100 |
Oak Forest 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 Oak Forest Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Oak Forest, 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 Oak Forest is $287,163.
The Median Rent in Oak Forest is $1,328.
The Median Income in Oak Forest is $91,990.
The Home Value To Income in Oak Forest is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Oak Forest is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Oak Forest | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $287,163 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,328 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $91,990 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.1x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Oak Forest, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Oak Forest Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Oak Forest | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.32 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.99 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $37.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed Oak Forest Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Oak Forest | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.94 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.08 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.61 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Oak Forest Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Oak Forest | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $86.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $82.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Oak Forest Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Oak Forest | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.52 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $45.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Oak Forest Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Oak Forest | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $156.87 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $198.03 | $192.25 |
Oak Forest SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Oak Forest
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Oak Forest. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Tinley Park, IL has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Oak Forest.
Downers Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 124, 1.2x Oak Forest.
Westmont, IL has a cost of living index of 115, 1.1x Oak Forest.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Oak Forest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tinley Park, IL | 54,842 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Downers Grove, IL | 50,054 | 124 | 1.2x |
| Westmont, IL | 23,724 | 115 | 1.1x |
| Darien, IL | 21,879 | 120 | 1.1x |
| Alsip, IL | 18,583 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Hinsdale, IL | 17,175 | 191 | 1.8x |
| Country Club Hills, IL | 16,324 | 99 | 0.9x |
| La Grange, IL | 15,998 | 143 | 1.3x |
| Midlothian, IL | 13,948 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Hazel Crest, IL | 13,792 | 95 | 0.9x |
