What is the cost of living in Illinois?

Illinois has an average cost of living index of 104, which is 6% below the national average of 111. Average monthly rent across tracked cities is $1,779, and average median household income is $91,148.

What is the cheapest city in Illinois?

Rockford is the most affordable city tracked in Illinois, with a cost index of 67 and median rent of $1,151/month.

What is the most expensive city in Illinois?

Chicago is the most expensive city tracked in Illinois, with a cost index of 134 and median rent of $2,292/month.

What is the average rent in Illinois?

The average monthly rent across 5 tracked cities in Illinois is $1,779. The cheapest rent is in Rockford at $1,151/month.

What is the average household income in Illinois?

The average median household income across tracked cities in Illinois is $91,148. The highest-earning city is Naperville at $150,937.

Is Illinois affordable to live in?

Illinois's average rent-to-income ratio is 24.9%. Financial advisors recommend keeping rent below 30% of gross income. Illinois is generally considered affordable, with rent taking less than 30% of typical incomes.

Home/Illinois

5 cities tracked

Illinois

Compare affordability, taxes, rent pressure, and earnings across Illinois’s tracked cities with a single state-level intelligence view.

All Rankings

Most affordable: Rockford

Highest income: Naperville

Avg rent: $1,779

Avg Cost Index

0/ 100

State Population

Avg Income

Avg Rent

$0/mo

Avg Home Price

Tracked City Pop

State Intelligence Overview

Core metrics, city comparisons, and tax signals

Most Affordable

Rockford

Index: 67Rent: $1,151

Most Expensive

Chicago

Index: 134Rent: $2,292

Highest Income

Naperville

$150,937Rent: $2,157

Illinois vs National Average

Cost Index

104

-6.3% vs avg

Avg Rent

$1,779

-6.1% vs avg

Avg Income

$91,148

+13.4% vs avg

Cities in Illinois

City	Cost	Rent	Income	Home Price	Pop	Rent/Inc
Chicago	134	$2,292	$75,134	$312,457	2,664,452	36.6%
Joliet	91	$1,559	$88,026	$255,981	150,489	21.3%
Naperville	126	$2,157	$150,937	$594,498	150,245	17.1%
Rockford	67	$1,151	$53,328	$172,610	146,120	25.9%
Elgin	101	$1,736	$88,316	$323,259	113,310	23.6%