C-
7%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
15%
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 Oak Lawn Illinois National
Cost of living10796100
Goods & Services10797100
Groceries10498100
Health care10895100
Housing11595100
Transportation107103100
Utilities8989100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Oak Lawn, IL

The cost of living in Oak Lawn affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Oak Lawn is 107, which is 7% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Oak Lawn is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, goods and services and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.

Is Oak Lawn Affordable?

Is Oak Lawn 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 Oak Lawn is 14.5% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 17.5% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Oak Lawn has a median household income of $69,352, which is 25.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Oak Lawn?

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Oak Lawn, the groceries index is 3.5% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Oak Lawn, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 6.25%, and income tax rates kick off at 4.95%.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Oak Lawn, the housing index comes in at 15.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Oak Lawn 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Oak Lawn is 11% higher than the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in Oak Lawn is 7% higher than the national average
  • Oak Lawn housing is 15% 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 Oak Lawn

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Compare Oak Lawn, 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$78,300$6,525$1,827$2,349
      Renters$46,603$3,884$1,087$1,398
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Oak Lawn is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Oak Lawn has a median income of about $78,300 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,827 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $46,603. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,087 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Oak Lawn 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 Oak Lawn 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 Oak Lawn 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 Oak Lawn National avg. Difference
      Home Price $211,500.00$184,700.0014.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,578.06$2,346.699.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,115.00$949.0017.5%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Oak Lawn 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.
      Hodgkins, IL1,7538514.6%
      Ford Heights, IL2,7058614.2%
      Phoenix, IL1,4028812.0%
      Dixmoor, IL3,5709010.2%
      Harvey, IL24,2959010.1%
      Oak Lawn, IL55,4321077.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Blue Springs, MO55,415954.6%
      Parker, CO55,46013838.2%
      Lake Havasu City, AZ55,46311010.1%
      Hacienda Heights, CA55,38616666.0%
      Belleville, ON55,515n/a 
      Oak Lawn, IL55,4321077.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.