D
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
28%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Grayslake Illinois National
Cost of living11196100
Goods & Services10797100
Groceries10498100
Health care10895100
Housing12895100
Transportation107103100
Utilities8989100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Grayslake, IL

Knowing the cost of living in Grayslake allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Grayslake stands at 111, marking it 11% higher than the national average.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Grayslake cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 28.1% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Grayslake Affordable?

Is Grayslake an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Grayslake is 30.9% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 21.5% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Grayslake has a median household income of $99,583, which is 80% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Grayslake?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Grayslake, the utilities index is 10.8% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Grayslake, the transportation index is 7.2% higher than the national average.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Grayslake, is 28.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Grayslake cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Grayslake is 15% higher than the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in Grayslake is 11% higher than the national average
  • Grayslake housing is 28% higher than the national average
  • Illinois general sales tax is 22% higher than the national average
  • Illinois state income tax is 91% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Grayslake

See all the best places to live around Grayslake

Compare Grayslake, IL Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$122,177$10,181$2,851$3,666
      Renters$61,836$5,153$1,443$1,855
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Grayslake, IL, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Grayslake, the median monthly income is $122,177 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,851 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $61,836, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,443 on monthly rental expenses.

      Illinois Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Illinois 6.25% 10.25%

      Illinois Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Illinois 4.95% 4.95%

      Goods & Services

      Item Grayslake National avg. Difference
      Haircut $33.69$24.2638.9%
      Beauty Salon $53.44$45.5617.3%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.4%
      Shampoo $1.27$1.281.1%
      Movie $17.91$12.1347.6%
      Bowling $24.58$18.0036.6%

      Groceries

      Item Grayslake National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.28$5.849.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.42$1.579.7%
      Milk $4.87$4.674.3%
      Potatoes $4.90$4.930.7%
      Pizza $13.41$12.0910.9%
      Beer $10.00$10.414.0%

      Health Care

      Item Grayslake National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $118.27$125.685.9%
      Doctor $167.67$135.7823.5%
      Dentist $128.22$113.2913.2%
      Ibuprofen $10.97$10.652.9%
      Lipitor $382.34$468.6018.4%

      Housing

      Item Grayslake National avg. Difference
      Home Price $241,800.00$184,700.0030.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,578.06$2,346.699.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,153.00$949.0021.5%

      Transportation

      Item Grayslake National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.56$3.462.7%
      Tire Balancing $70.87$59.9218.3%

      Utilities

      Item Grayslake National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $148.58$193.9923.4%
      Phone $210.03$192.259.3%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Park City, IL7,6368415.8%
      North Chicago, IL29,967973.2%
      Round Lake Park, IL7,744972.8%
      Waukegan, IL87,157982.1%
      Zion, IL23,677973.4%
      Grayslake, IL20,48211111.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      South Frontenac, ON20,491n/a 
      Woodbridge, NJ20,50012524.5%
      Ashland, KY20,4498514.6%
      Suwanee, GA20,44412020.4%
      Marblehead, MA20,53017978.5%
      Grayslake, IL20,48211111.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.