What is the cost of living in Waukegan, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waukegan has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Waukegan has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Waukegan ranks as #114 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Waukegan ranks as the #222 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Waukegan, check out:
Waukegan Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Waukegan. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Waukegan is 102.
The Groceries index in Waukegan is 101.
The Health index in Waukegan is 86.
The Housing index in Waukegan is 100.
The Transportation index in Waukegan is 104.
The Utilities index in Waukegan is 98.
| Living Expense | Waukegan | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 86 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Waukegan 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 Waukegan Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Waukegan, 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 Waukegan is $235,400.
The Median Rent in Waukegan is $1,205.
The Median Income in Waukegan is $71,919.
The Home Value To Income in Waukegan is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Waukegan is 0.2x.
Waukegan, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Waukegan Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Waukegan Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Waukegan Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Waukegan Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Waukegan SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waukegan
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Waukegan. 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, 1.3x Waukegan.
Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 146, 1.5x Waukegan.
Buffalo Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 126, 1.3x Waukegan.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Waukegan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 1.3x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 1.5x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 1.3x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 1.6x |
| North Chicago, IL | 30,643 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Gurnee, IL | 30,510 | 111 | 1.2x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 1.5x |
| Lake Zurich, IL | 19,832 | 122 | 1.3x |
| Deerfield, IL | 19,518 | 148 | 1.5x |
| Beach Park, IL | 14,115 | 102 | 1.1x |
