What is the cost of living in Ottawa, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ottawa has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Ottawa has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Ottawa ranks as #69 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Ottawa ranks as the #267 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Ottawa, check out:
Ottawa Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ottawa. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ottawa is 99.
The Groceries index in Ottawa is 99.
The Health index in Ottawa is 74.
The Housing index in Ottawa is 104.
The Transportation index in Ottawa is 103.
The Utilities index in Ottawa is 97.
| Living Expense | Ottawa | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 74 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 101 | 100 |
Ottawa 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 Ottawa Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ottawa, 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 Ottawa is $206,707.
The Median Rent in Ottawa is $920.
The Median Income in Ottawa is $71,413.
The Home Value To Income in Ottawa is 2.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ottawa is 0.15x.
Ottawa, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Ottawa Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Ottawa Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Ottawa Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Ottawa Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Ottawa SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ottawa
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ottawa. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Streator, IL has a cost of living index of 82, 0.9x Ottawa.
Peru, IL has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Ottawa.
LaSalle, IL has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Ottawa.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ottawa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streator, IL | 12,330 | 82 | 0.9x |
| Peru, IL | 9,775 | 91 | 1.0x |
| LaSalle, IL | 9,498 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Mendota, IL | 6,994 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Spring Valley, IL | 5,476 | 88 | 1.0x |
