What is the cost of living in Wilmette, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wilmette has an overall cost of living index of 161, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Wilmette has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Wilmette ranks as #323 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Wilmette ranks as the #13 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Wilmette, check out:
Wilmette Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wilmette. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wilmette is 100.
The Groceries index in Wilmette is 95.
The Health index in Wilmette is 306.
The Housing index in Wilmette is 100.
The Transportation index in Wilmette is 104.
The Utilities index in Wilmette is 105.
| Living Expense | Wilmette | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 161 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 306 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 101 | 100 |
Wilmette 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 Wilmette Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Wilmette, 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 Wilmette is $961,182.
The Median Rent in Wilmette is $1,978.
The Median Income in Wilmette is $190,662.
The Home Value To Income in Wilmette is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wilmette is 0.12x.
Wilmette, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Wilmette Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Wilmette Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Wilmette Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Wilmette Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Wilmette SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wilmette
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wilmette. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Evanston, IL has a cost of living index of 129, 0.8x Wilmette.
Arlington Heights, IL has a cost of living index of 125, 0.8x Wilmette.
Skokie, IL has a cost of living index of 118, 0.7x Wilmette.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wilmette |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evanston, IL | 76,340 | 129 | 0.8x |
| Arlington Heights, IL | 76,005 | 125 | 0.8x |
| Skokie, IL | 66,219 | 118 | 0.7x |
| Glenview, IL | 47,752 | 146 | 0.9x |
| Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 134 | 0.8x |
| Buffalo Grove, IL | 42,891 | 126 | 0.8x |
| Park Ridge, IL | 38,667 | 135 | 0.8x |
| Northbrook, IL | 34,585 | 151 | 0.9x |
| Highland Park, IL | 30,398 | 144 | 0.9x |
| Morton Grove, IL | 24,619 | 128 | 0.8x |
