Waukegan, IL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Waukegan, IL Summary

Cost of living in Waukegan research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Waukegan is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Illinois, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Waukegan is 97, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Waukegan is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • Waukegan ranks as the #123 cheapest in Illinois out of 336.

  • Waukegan ranks as the #2,245 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Waukegan is $233,447.

  • The median income in Waukegan is $70,578.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
97
Waukegan's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

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 97, 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 97.

The standard of living in Waukegan ranks as #123 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Waukegan ranks as the #213 most expensive place in the Prairie State.

For more reading on life in Waukegan, check out:

123 out of 336
In Illinois
2,245 out of 6,489
In America

Waukegan Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Waukegan. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Waukegan is 107.

  • The Groceries index in Waukegan is 105.

  • The Health index in Waukegan is 110.

  • The Housing index in Waukegan is 84.

  • The Transportation index in Waukegan is 109.

  • The Utilities index in Waukegan is 90.

Living Expense Waukegan Illinois National Average
Overall 97 97 100
Services 107 95 100
Groceries 105 99 100
Health 110 93 100
Housing 84 95 100
Transportation 109 102 100
Utilities 90 91 100
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Waukegan Cost of Living Vs. IL

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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Waukegan is $233,447.

  • The Median Rent in Waukegan is $1,163.

  • The Median Income in Waukegan is $70,578.

  • The Home Value To Income in Waukegan is 3.3x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Waukegan is 0.2x.

Statistic Waukegan Illinois United States
Median Home Value $233,447 $283,508 $303,400
Median Rent $1,163 $1,227 $1,348
Median Income $70,578 $81,702 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.3x 3.5x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.2x 0.18x 0.21x
$233,447
Median Home Value
$1,163
Median Rent
$70,578
Median Income

Waukegan, IL Costs By Category

Detailed Waukegan Services Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Waukegan 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 Waukegan Groceries Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Waukegan 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 Waukegan Health Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Waukegan Illinois
Optometrist $118.27 $125.68
Doctor $167.67 $135.78
Dentist $128.22 $113.29

Detailed Waukegan Transportation Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Waukegan Illinois
Gasoline $3.56 $3.46
Tire Balancing $70.87 $59.92

Detailed Waukegan Utilities Costs Vs. Illinois

Item Waukegan Illinois
All Electricity $148.58 $193.99
Phone $210.03 $192.25

Waukegan SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
7
Affordability
7
Diversity
9.5
Safety
8
Amenities
9.5
Education
5
Commute
6

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 124, 1.3x Waukegan.

  • Glenview, IL has a cost of living index of 149, 1.5x Waukegan.

  • Buffalo Grove, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 1.3x Waukegan.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Waukegan
Arlington Heights, IL 76,220 124 1.3x
Glenview, IL 47,682 149 1.5x
Buffalo Grove, IL 42,824 125 1.3x
Northbrook, IL 34,642 153 1.6x
North Chicago, IL 30,772 95 1.0x
Gurnee, IL 30,486 117 1.2x
Highland Park, IL 30,229 148 1.5x
Lake Zurich, IL 19,727 127 1.3x
Deerfield, IL 19,185 148 1.5x
Beach Park, IL 13,988 102 1.1x

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