What is the cost of living in Princeton, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Princeton has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Princeton has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Princeton ranks as #78 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Princeton ranks as the #258 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Princeton, check out:
Princeton Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Princeton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Princeton is 99.
The Groceries index in Princeton is 101.
The Health index in Princeton is 65.
The Housing index in Princeton is 101.
The Transportation index in Princeton is 104.
The Utilities index in Princeton is 101.
| Living Expense | Princeton | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 65 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Princeton 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 Princeton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Princeton, 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 Princeton is $167,664.
The Median Rent in Princeton is $782.
The Median Income in Princeton is $61,946.
The Home Value To Income in Princeton is 2.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Princeton is 0.15x.
Princeton, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Princeton Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Princeton Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Princeton Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Princeton Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Princeton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Princeton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Princeton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
East Peoria, IL has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Princeton.
Ottawa, IL has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Princeton.
Washington, IL has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Princeton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Peoria, IL | 22,324 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Ottawa, IL | 18,447 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Washington, IL | 15,919 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Peru, IL | 9,775 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Silvis, IL | 7,955 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Sandwich, IL | 7,219 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Geneseo, IL | 6,673 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Chillicothe, IL | 5,900 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Colona, IL | 5,139 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Eureka, IL | 5,007 | 89 | 1.0x |
