What is the cost of living in Vernon Hills, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Vernon Hills has an overall cost of living index of 126, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Vernon Hills has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Vernon Hills ranks as #297 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Vernon Hills ranks as the #39 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Vernon Hills, check out:
Vernon Hills Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Vernon Hills. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Vernon Hills is 99.
The Groceries index in Vernon Hills is 96.
The Health index in Vernon Hills is 186.
The Housing index in Vernon Hills is 101.
The Transportation index in Vernon Hills is 99.
The Utilities index in Vernon Hills is 100.
| Living Expense | Vernon Hills | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 126 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 186 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Vernon Hills 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 Vernon Hills Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Vernon Hills, 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 Vernon Hills is $448,031.
The Median Rent in Vernon Hills is $1,903.
The Median Income in Vernon Hills is $121,943.
The Home Value To Income in Vernon Hills is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Vernon Hills is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Vernon Hills | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $448,031 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,903 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $121,943 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.7x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Vernon Hills, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Vernon Hills Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Vernon Hills | 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 Vernon Hills Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Vernon Hills | 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 Vernon Hills Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Vernon Hills | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.27 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $167.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $128.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Vernon Hills Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Vernon Hills | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.56 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Vernon Hills Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Vernon Hills | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $210.03 | $192.25 |
Vernon Hills SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Vernon Hills
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Vernon Hills. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Arlington Heights, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 1.0x Vernon Hills.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.2x Vernon Hills.
Buffalo Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 126, 1.0x Vernon Hills.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Vernon Hills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.2x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 1.1x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.2x |
| Mundelein, IL | 31,915 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 1.1x |
| Wilmette, IL | 27,503 | 161 | 1.3x |
| Libertyville, IL | 20,525 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Lake Zurich, IL | 19,832 | 122 | 1.0x |
