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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
This is one of the closest races in our database: the top 5 cities are separated by just 8 points on the cost index. Chicago, Joliet, Naperville, Rockford, Elgin are all within striking distance. At this margin, secondary factors — taxes, rent trends, category-specific costs — become the tiebreakers…
#1 Ranked: Chicago — cost index 111, rent $2,292/mo, income $75,134
Top 5 separated by only 8 points
4 of 5 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Chicago | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $54,085 |
2Joliet | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $54,085 |
3Naperville | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $54,085 |
4Rockford | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $54,085 |
5Elgin | 4.95% | 8.83% | 1.73% | $54,085 |
This is one of the closest races in our database: the top 5 cities are separated by just 8 points on the cost index. Chicago, Joliet, Naperville, Rockford, Elgin are all within striking distance. At this margin, secondary factors — taxes, rent trends, category-specific costs — become the tiebreakers. Here's the full breakdown.
Why Chicago ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 111 on the cost index, residents save roughly 1% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $2,292/month while the median household pulls in $75,134/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 102, though Housing (127) lags behind. Home prices average $312,457 — $154,913 below the national median.
Tax burden isn't just income tax. We combine three layers: state income tax (4.95% in Chicago), combined state+local sales tax (8.83%), and effective property tax (1.73%). At 4.95% state income tax, the real differentiator becomes sales and property tax rates. On a $75,000 salary, the estimated take-home in #1 Chicago is $53,997/year.
The data doesn't lie, but it does surprise: Top 5 separated by only 8 points. The race is tight: Chicago, Joliet, Naperville, Rockford, Elgin are all within 8 points of each other. At this level, differences in rent, taxes, or a single category can sway the decision.
If the first stat impressed you, this one grounds it. Across Illinois, the average cost of living index is 104 — 8 points below the national median. Known for Chicago's premium versus downstate bargains, the state offers 5 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,779/month. That's $116 less than the national average of $1,895. That's the kind of stat homebuyers should print out for their mortgage meetings.
In plain English: If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
The race is tight: Chicago, Joliet, Naperville, Rockford, Elgin are all within 8 points of each other. At this level, differences in rent, taxes, or a single category can sway the decision.
Rent in #1-ranked Chicago has increased from $2,179 to $2,292/mo over the past 12 months — a 5% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
2,664,452 residents · Illinois
Chicago comes in at #1. Rent is $2,292 a month. Household income is $75,134. The cost of living index is 111. Fairly typical for a city this size.
150,489 residents · Illinois
Joliet earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 97 cost index sits 15 points below the national baseline, and the $88,026 — whether that matters depends on your situation — median income means purchasing power here is genuinely above average. Homes list at $255,981 — $211,389 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 89, while Healthcare trails at 100.
150,245 residents · Illinois
A closer look at Naperville: the cost index of 122 breaks down to a Utilities index of 112 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 154 (weakest). Median rent is $2,157/month — 14% above the national median — while household income sits at $150,937, meaning locals spend about 17% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
146,120 residents · Illinois
Rockford earns its position at #4 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 86 cost index sits 26 points below the national baseline, and the $53,328 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $172,610 — $294,760 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 66, while Healthcare trails at 89.
113,310 residents · Illinois
Elgin earns its position at #5 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 103 cost index sits 9 points below the national baseline, and the $88,316 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — median income means purchasing power here is genuinely above average. Homes list at $323,259 — $144,111 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 94, while Healthcare trails at 106. A real contender.
Chicago ranks #1 in Illinois for this analysis with a cost index of 111 and median income of $75,134.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Chicago (ranked #1) has a cost index of 111 and rent of $2,292/mo, while Elgin (ranked #5) has a cost index of 103 and rent of $1,736/mo — a 8-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Chicago is $2,292/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $397 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Chicago is $312,457, which is 4.2× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Illinois has a 4.95% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.83%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.73%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.