A+
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
22%
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 University Park Illinois National
Cost of living9496100
Goods & Services10697100
Groceries9798100
Health care9895100
Housing7895100
Transportation114103100
Utilities8089100
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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in University Park is 2% lower than the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in University Park is 6% lower than the national average
  • University Park housing is 22% lower 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

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Compare University Park, 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$72,279$6,023$1,686$2,169
          Renters$48,365$4,030$1,128$1,451
          A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in University Park 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. University Park has a median income of about $72,279 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,686 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $48,365. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,128 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 University Park National avg. Difference
          Haircut $19.72$24.2618.7%
          Beauty Salon $37.22$45.5618.3%
          Toothpaste $3.72$3.700.6%
          Shampoo $1.32$1.283.3%
          Movie $9.99$12.1317.7%
          Bowling $16.00$18.0011.1%

          Groceries

          Item University Park National avg. Difference
          Ground Beef $5.94$5.841.8%
          Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.8%
          Milk $4.55$4.672.5%
          Potatoes $5.08$4.933.0%
          Pizza $10.69$12.0911.6%
          Beer $9.61$10.417.7%

          Health Care

          Item University Park National avg. Difference
          Optometrist $86.67$125.6831.0%
          Doctor $110.00$135.7819.0%
          Dentist $82.00$113.2927.6%
          Ibuprofen $10.17$10.654.5%
          Lipitor $511.00$468.609.0%

          Housing

          Item University Park National avg. Difference
          Home Price $124,400.00$184,700.0032.6%
          Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,316.57$2,346.6943.9%
          Apartment Rent $975.00$949.002.7%

          Transportation

          Item University Park National avg. Difference
          Gasoline $3.52$3.461.7%
          Tire Balancing $45.00$59.9224.9%

          Utilities

          Item University Park National avg. Difference
          All Electricity $156.87$193.9919.1%
          Phone $198.03$192.253.0%
          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.
          Ford Heights, IL2,7058614.2%
          East Chicago, IN28,0448712.7%
          Phoenix, IL1,4028812.0%
          Dixmoor, IL3,5709010.2%
          Harvey, IL24,2959010.1%
          University Park, IL7,224945.6%

          Cities with similar population

          City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
          Lecanto, FL7,224946.3%
          Huntertown, IN7,224991.0%
          Ephraim, UT7,2221055.4%
          Canfield, OH7,226937.5%
          Rocky Mountain House, AB7,226n/a 
          University Park, IL7,224945.6%
          Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.