What is the cost of living in Palatine, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Palatine has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Palatine has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Palatine ranks as #246 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Palatine ranks as the #90 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Palatine, check out:
Palatine Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Palatine. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Palatine is 103.
The Groceries index in Palatine is 100.
The Health index in Palatine is 153.
The Housing index in Palatine is 101.
The Transportation index in Palatine is 100.
The Utilities index in Palatine is 98.
| Living Expense | Palatine | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 113 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 153 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Palatine 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 Palatine Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Palatine, 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 Palatine is $375,854.
The Median Rent in Palatine is $1,549.
The Median Income in Palatine is $97,819.
The Home Value To Income in Palatine is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Palatine is 0.19x.
Palatine, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Palatine Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Palatine Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Palatine Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Palatine Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Palatine SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Palatine
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Palatine. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Arlington Heights, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 1.1x Palatine.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.3x Palatine.
Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 134, 1.2x Palatine.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Palatine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.3x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.2x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.2x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.3x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 1.3x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.4x |
| Rolling Meadows, IL | 24,027 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Lake Zurich, IL | 19,832 | 122 | 1.1x |
