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Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Cost of living in DeKalb County, IL

Part of the Chicago Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,981/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 100,512 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,058 35%
Healthcare $480 16%
Federal tax $407 14%
Groceries $345 12%
Transport $320 11%
Energy $177 6%
State tax $144 5%
Water $50 2%

Rent in DeKalb County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$952
per month
1 bedroom
$1,058
per month
2 bedroom
$1,388
per month
3 bedroom
$1,891
per month
4 bedroom
$2,331
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in DeKalb County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$69,022
per year
Individual earnings
$34,932
per year
Per capita
$35,054
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in DeKalb County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$231,900
Annual property tax
$5,889

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in DeKalb County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$116
per month · 16.5¢/kWh
Natural gas
$61
per month
Annual total
$2,124
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in DeKalb County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
4.8%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in DeKalb County

State and local tax rates for Illinois.

State income tax
5.0%
Flat rate
State sales tax
6.3%
Combined sales tax
8.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in DeKalb County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
26.7 min
Drive alone
76.4%
Public transit
0.9%
Work from home
7.6%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for DeKalb County

What it costs to live in DeKalb County each month.

Single person
$2,981
per month
  • Rent $1,058
  • Energy $177
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $345
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $407
  • State tax $144
Couple
$4,601
per month
  • Rent $1,388
  • Energy $212
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $572
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $800
  • State tax $285
Family
$7,249
per month
  • Rent $1,891
  • Energy $266
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $867
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $800
  • State tax $285

Frequently asked questions about DeKalb County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in DeKalb County?

In DeKalb County, IL, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,058 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,388 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,891 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in DeKalb County?

In DeKalb County, IL, the average household income is $69,022 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $34,932 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in DeKalb County?

The estimated cost of living in DeKalb County, IL is approximately $2,981 per month for a single person, $4,601 for a couple, $7,249 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in DeKalb County?

The combined sales tax rate in DeKalb County, IL is 8.82%, which includes the Illinois state rate of 6.25% plus an average local rate of 2.57%.

Is DeKalb County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in DeKalb County, IL would need approximately $2,981 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $69,022 per year ($5,752 per month). DeKalb County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in DeKalb County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in DeKalb County, IL is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 4.8% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in DeKalb County?

The average home value in DeKalb County, IL is $231,900, with average annual property taxes of $5,889, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does DeKalb County compare to other areas?

You can compare DeKalb County, IL with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. DeKalb County is in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area.

Other counties in Illinois

Browse the full list of counties in Illinois, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Illinois

Compare DeKalb County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources