What is the cost of living in Park Forest, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Park Forest has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Park Forest has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Park Forest ranks as #88 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Park Forest ranks as the #248 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Park Forest, check out:
Park Forest Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Park Forest. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Park Forest is 100.
The Groceries index in Park Forest is 99.
The Health index in Park Forest is 70.
The Housing index in Park Forest is 105.
The Transportation index in Park Forest is 101.
The Utilities index in Park Forest is 99.
| Living Expense | Park Forest | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 70 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
Park 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 Park Forest Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Park 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 Park Forest is $149,727.
The Median Rent in Park Forest is $1,365.
The Median Income in Park Forest is $61,072.
The Home Value To Income in Park Forest is 2.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Park Forest is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Park Forest | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $149,727 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,365 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $61,072 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.5x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Park Forest, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Park Forest Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Park 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 Park Forest Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Park 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 Park Forest Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Park Forest | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $86.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $82.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Park Forest Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Park Forest | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.52 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $45.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Park Forest Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Park Forest | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $156.87 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $198.03 | $192.25 |
Park Forest SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Park Forest
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Park Forest. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Orland Park, IL has a cost of living index of 114, 1.2x Park Forest.
Tinley Park, IL has a cost of living index of 111, 1.2x Park Forest.
Oak Forest, IL has a cost of living index of 106, 1.2x Park Forest.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Park Forest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orland Park, IL | 57,916 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Tinley Park, IL | 54,842 | 111 | 1.2x |
| Oak Forest, IL | 26,805 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Chicago Heights, IL | 26,736 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Homer Glen, IL | 24,529 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Mokena, IL | 20,021 | 117 | 1.3x |
| Homewood, IL | 19,294 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Matteson, IL | 18,645 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Palos Hills, IL | 18,081 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Richton Park, IL | 12,521 | 98 | 1.1x |
