What is the cost of living in Palos Heights, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Palos Heights has an overall cost of living index of 120, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Palos Heights has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Palos Heights ranks as #280 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Palos Heights ranks as the #56 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Palos Heights, check out:
Palos Heights Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Palos Heights. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Palos Heights is 99.
The Groceries index in Palos Heights is 101.
The Health index in Palos Heights is 159.
The Housing index in Palos Heights is 104.
The Transportation index in Palos Heights is 97.
The Utilities index in Palos Heights is 102.
| Living Expense | Palos Heights | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 120 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 159 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 101 | 100 |
Palos Heights 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 Palos Heights Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Palos Heights, 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 Palos Heights is $389,152.
The Median Rent in Palos Heights is $2,558.
The Median Income in Palos Heights is $108,740.
The Home Value To Income in Palos Heights is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Palos Heights is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Palos Heights | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $389,152 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,558 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $108,740 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.6x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Palos Heights, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Palos Heights Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Palos Heights | 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 Palos Heights Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Palos Heights | 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 Palos Heights Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Palos Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Palos Heights Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Palos Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Palos Heights Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Palos Heights | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
Palos Heights SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Palos Heights
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Palos Heights. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Naperville, IL has a cost of living index of 133, 1.1x Palos Heights.
Oak Lawn, IL has a cost of living index of 104, 0.9x Palos Heights.
Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 134, 1.1x Palos Heights.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Palos Heights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naperville, IL | 150,692 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Oak Lawn, IL | 56,861 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.1x |
| Glen Ellyn, IL | 28,390 | 137 | 1.1x |
| Oak Forest, IL | 26,805 | 106 | 0.9x |
| Lisle, IL | 23,407 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Darien, IL | 21,879 | 120 | 1.0x |
| Alsip, IL | 18,583 | 100 | 0.8x |
| Palos Hills, IL | 18,081 | 105 | 0.9x |
| Hinsdale, IL | 17,175 | 191 | 1.6x |








