Cost of Living in Illinois: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2024
What is the cost of living in Illinois? doxo breaks down key insights about Illinois’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state.
According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in Illinois pays $2,204 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Phone, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.
The data sheds light on Illinois’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month.
By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.
Illinois ranks as the 20th most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, Illinois is ranked as the 20th most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills, making it the least expensive state for these expenses.
At $26,446 per year, Illinois’s household expenses, on average, are 4% higher than the US average of $25,513.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. Illinois households spend 32% of their income on bills.
COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national average and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national average. The COBI for Illinois is 104.
- Average Bill Cost per Household: $2,204 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 104
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #20
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 32%
- Compared to the National Average: 4% higher
Illinois Household Expenses are 4% Higher Than the National Average
The average Illinois household pays $2,204 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills.
On the lowest end of the spectrum, the average monthly payment for alarm and security bills in Illinois is $91, compared to the national average of $85, making it 7% higher than average.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for Illinois residents. The average monthly mortgage payment is $1,767, compared to the national average of $1,402, making it 23% higher expensive.
Average Illinois Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Average Illinois Monthly Bill | National Average Monthly Bill | Illinois Percent +/- National Average ($2,126) |
| Mortgage | $1,767 | $1,402 | 23% higher |
| Rent | $1,254 | $1,300 | 4% lower |
| Auto Loan | $496 | $496 | The same |
| Utilities | $333 | $362 | 8% lower |
| Auto Insurance | $204 | $209 | 2% lower |
| Health Insurance | $102 | $114 | 11% lower |
| Mobile Phone | $118 | $121 | 3% lower |
| Cable & Internet | $122 | $122 | The same |
| Life Insurance | $88 | $87 | 1% higher |
| Alarm & Security | $91 | $85 | 7% higher |
| Total | $2,204 | $2,126 | 4% higher |
Hinsdale has the highest cost of living in Illinois for household bills
Residents of Hinsdale pay the highest household bills in the state of Illinois, at an average of $3,551 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Hindale is 167, meaning the average cost of bills in this city is 67% higher than the national average.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Hinsdale makeup 18% of the average annual household income of $242,462.
Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.
10 Most Expensive Illinois Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Average Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Average | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Hinsdale | $242,462 | $3,551 | 167 | 67% higher | 18% |
| 2 | Winnetka | $227,013 | $3,541 | 167 | 67% higher | 35% |
| 3 | Deerfield | $181,111 | $3,464 | 163 | 63% higher | 23% |
| 4 | Barrington | $170,505 | $3,355 | 158 | 58% higher | 24% |
| 5 | Wilmette | $179,700 | $3,318 | 156 | 56% higher | 22% |
| 6 | Highland Park | $159,519 | $3,314 | 156 | 56% higher | 25% |
| 7 | Lake Zurich | $167,358 | $3,271 | 154 | 54% higher | 23% |
| 8 | Lake Forest | $201,847 | $3,255 | 153 | 53% higher | 19% |
| 9 | Yorkville | $106,543 | $3,020 | 142 | 42% higher | 34% |
| 10 | Mokena | $119,229 | $2,977 | 140 | 40% higher | 30% |
Centralia has the lowest cost of living in Illinois for household bills
Out of 227 cities, Centralia is the most affordable place in Illinois, with residents paying $1,217 on average for household bills, accounting for 28% of annual income of $52,840. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Centralia is 57, meaning the average cost of bills in this city is 43% below the national average.
East Saint Louis is the second most affordable city in Illinois, with residents paying $1,351 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 10 least expensive cities in Illinois are Kewanee ($1,368), Taylorville ($1,372) and Olney ($1,382).
10 Most Affordable Illinois Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Average Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Average | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 218 | Galesburg | $45,426 | $1,543 | 73 | 27% lower | 41% |
| 219 | Granite City | $59,542 | $1,474 | 69 | 31% lower | 30% |
| 220 | Paris | $53,896 | $1,473 | 69 | 31% lower | 33% |
| 221 | Benton | $51,978 | $1,470 | 69 | 31% lower | 34% |
| 222 | Sterling | $57,618 | $1,439 | 68 | 32% lower | 30% |
| 223 | Olney | $62,033 | $1,382 | 65 | 35% lower | 27% |
| 224 | Taylorville | $56,201 | $1,372 | 65 | 35% lower | 29% |
| 225 | Kewanee | $48,020 | $1,368 | 64 | 36% lower | 34% |
| 226 | East Saint Louis | $33,317 | $1,351 | 64 | 36% lower | 49% |
| 227 | Centralia | $52,840 | $1,217 | 57 | 43% lower | 28% |
Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in Illinois with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.