What is the cost of living in South Barrington, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South Barrington has an overall cost of living index of 210, which is 2.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, South Barrington has a cost of living index that's 2.1x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in South Barrington ranks as #334 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies South Barrington ranks as the #2 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in South Barrington, check out:
South Barrington Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South Barrington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South Barrington is 99.
The Groceries index in South Barrington is 99.
The Health index in South Barrington is 472.
The Housing index in South Barrington is 98.
The Transportation index in South Barrington is 97.
The Utilities index in South Barrington is 102.
| Living Expense | South Barrington | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 210 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 472 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 101 | 100 |
South Barrington 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 South Barrington Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
South Barrington, 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 South Barrington is $1,108,364.
The Median Rent in South Barrington is $2,200.
The Median Income in South Barrington is $221,575.
The Home Value To Income in South Barrington is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South Barrington is 0.12x.
| Statistic | South Barrington | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,108,364 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,200 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $221,575 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.12x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
South Barrington, IL Costs By Category
Detailed South Barrington Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | South Barrington | 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 South Barrington Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | South Barrington | 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 South Barrington Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | South Barrington | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed South Barrington Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | South Barrington | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed South Barrington Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | South Barrington | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
South Barrington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South Barrington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South Barrington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Schaumburg, IL has a cost of living index of 115, 0.5x South Barrington.
Palatine, IL has a cost of living index of 113, 0.5x South Barrington.
Hoffman Estates, IL has a cost of living index of 118, 0.6x South Barrington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schaumburg, IL | 76,868 | 115 | 0.5x |
| Palatine, IL | 66,293 | 113 | 0.5x |
| Hoffman Estates, IL | 51,175 | 118 | 0.6x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 0.7x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 0.6x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 0.6x |
| Streamwood, IL | 39,001 | 111 | 0.5x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 0.6x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 0.7x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 0.7x |








