What is the cost of living in River Forest, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, River Forest has an overall cost of living index of 151, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, River Forest has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in River Forest ranks as #320 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies River Forest ranks as the #16 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in River Forest, check out:
River Forest Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in River Forest. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in River Forest is 102.
The Groceries index in River Forest is 99.
The Health index in River Forest is 276.
The Housing index in River Forest is 104.
The Transportation index in River Forest is 94.
The Utilities index in River Forest is 97.
| Living Expense | River Forest | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 151 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 276 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 101 | 100 |
River 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 River Forest Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
River 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 River Forest is $716,652.
The Median Rent in River Forest is $1,554.
The Median Income in River Forest is $146,786.
The Home Value To Income in River Forest is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in River Forest is 0.13x.
| Statistic | River Forest | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $716,652 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,554 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $146,786 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.13x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
River Forest, IL Costs By Category
Detailed River Forest Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | River Forest | 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 River Forest Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | River Forest | 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 River Forest Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | River Forest | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed River Forest Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | River Forest | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed River Forest Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | River Forest | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
River Forest SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around River Forest
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around River Forest. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Oak Park, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 0.8x River Forest.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.0x River Forest.
Elmhurst, IL has a cost of living index of 134, 0.9x River Forest.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. River Forest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Park, IL | 53,292 | 125 | 0.8x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.0x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 0.9x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 0.9x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.0x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 1.0x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.1x |
| Melrose Park, IL | 24,549 | 104 | 0.7x |
| Elmwood Park, IL | 23,868 | 112 | 0.7x |
| Maywood, IL | 23,201 | 95 | 0.6x |
