Rent, home prices, and cost of living in Illinois
Illinois is not one housing market. Compare renter and buyer costs, then filter 337 cities by the constraints that matter to your move.
Major cities in Illinois
Tax context: top income-tax rate 4.95%, estimated combined sales tax 8.82%, property-tax proxy 2.07%. Use the dedicated tax tool for an income scenario.
Data boundary: city housing and income use committed Zillow/Census inputs; non-housing costs use BEA regional proxies; mortgage estimates use the committed FRED benchmark. Tax values are state context, not an individual filing or parcel bill.
Frequently asked questions about Illinois
Illinois housing questions
What is the most affordable city to live in Illinois?+
Among the cities we track, East St. Louis stands out as the most affordable option in Illinois. The median home value there is $52,700, and monthly rent typically runs around $597. The local median household income is $30,992, which tends to go further here than in much of the state.
What is the most expensive city in Illinois?+
Lake Forest is currently the priciest market in IL. Homes there are valued at a median of $1,150,871, and renters can expect to pay around $2,120/month. Incomes are higher too — the median household earns $228,120 — but whether that fully offsets the cost premium depends on your lifestyle.
How are taxes in Illinois?+
Illinois uses a flat model; 4.95% is top marginal-rate context. The state-level effective owner-occupied property-tax proxy is 2.07% and is not an individual bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is 8.82%.
How much does housing vary across Illinois?+
There's a huge range. In East St. Louis, the median home costs around $52,700. In Lake Forest, that number jumps to $1,150,871 — roughly 21x more. Rents follow a similar pattern: approximately $597/month vs. $2,120/month. Where you choose to settle within IL can make a dramatic difference in your monthly budget.
Is Illinois a good state to move to?+
It depends on your priorities and budget. Illinois has a wide range of living costs depending on the city. Typical home values range from around $52,700 in lower-cost tracked places to $1,150,871 in higher-cost tracked places. Use the city comparison tool to compare housing, rent, state-level tax proxies, and everyday cost pressure across locations in IL.