What is the cost of living in West Chicago, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Chicago has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, West Chicago has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in West Chicago ranks as #210 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies West Chicago ranks as the #126 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in West Chicago, check out:
West Chicago Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Chicago. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Chicago is 101.
The Groceries index in West Chicago is 102.
The Health index in West Chicago is 134.
The Housing index in West Chicago is 98.
The Transportation index in West Chicago is 100.
The Utilities index in West Chicago is 103.
| Living Expense | West Chicago | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 134 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 101 | 100 |
West Chicago 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 West Chicago Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
West Chicago, 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 West Chicago is $380,371.
The Median Rent in West Chicago is $1,469.
The Median Income in West Chicago is $99,927.
The Home Value To Income in West Chicago is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Chicago is 0.18x.
| Statistic | West Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $380,371 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,469 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $99,927 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
West Chicago, IL Costs By Category
Detailed West Chicago Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | West Chicago | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.32 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.99 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $37.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed West Chicago Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | West Chicago | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.94 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.08 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.61 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed West Chicago Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | West Chicago | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $86.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $82.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed West Chicago Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | West Chicago | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.52 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $45.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed West Chicago Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | West Chicago | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $156.87 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $198.03 | $192.25 |
West Chicago SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Chicago
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West Chicago. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Naperville, IL has a cost of living index of 133, 1.2x West Chicago.
Arlington Heights, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 1.2x West Chicago.
Wheaton, IL has a cost of living index of 127, 1.2x West Chicago.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naperville, IL | 150,692 | 133 | 1.2x |
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 1.2x |
| Wheaton, IL | 53,557 | 127 | 1.2x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 1.2x |
| Bartlett, IL | 40,501 | 119 | 1.1x |
| Carol Stream, IL | 39,460 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Hanover Park, IL | 36,732 | 109 | 1.0x |
| St. Charles, IL | 32,854 | 118 | 1.1x |
| Glen Ellyn, IL | 28,390 | 137 | 1.3x |
| Batavia, IL | 27,151 | 118 | 1.1x |
