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Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Cost of living in Elgin, Illinois

Kane County, IL

Part of the Chicago Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,729/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 516,097 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,560 42%
Federal tax $603 16%
Healthcare $480 13%
Groceries $345 9%
Transport $320 9%
State tax $194 5%
Energy $177 5%
Water $50 1%

Rent in Elgin

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,458
per month
1 bedroom
$1,560
per month
2 bedroom
$1,761
per month
3 bedroom
$2,262
per month
4 bedroom
$2,657
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Elgin

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$100,678
per year
Individual earnings
$46,936
per year
Per capita
$46,013
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Elgin

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$303,000
Annual property tax
$7,230

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Elgin

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 Elgin

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
7.9%

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 Elgin

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 Elgin

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
28.3 min
Drive alone
71.9%
Public transit
1.7%
Work from home
14.4%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Elgin

What it costs to live in Elgin each month.

Single person
$3,729
per month
  • Rent $1,560
  • Energy $177
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $345
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $603
  • State tax $194
Couple
$5,622
per month
  • Rent $1,761
  • Energy $212
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $572
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,318
  • State tax $415
Family
$8,268
per month
  • Rent $2,262
  • Energy $266
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $867
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,318
  • State tax $415

Frequently asked questions about Elgin

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Elgin?

In Elgin, Illinois, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,560 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,761 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,262 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Elgin?

In Elgin, Illinois, the average household income is $100,678 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $46,936 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Elgin?

The estimated cost of living in Elgin, Illinois is approximately $3,729 per month for a single person, $5,622 for a couple, $8,268 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Elgin?

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

Is Elgin an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Elgin, Illinois would need approximately $3,729 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $100,678 per year ($8,390 per month). Elgin is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Elgin?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Elgin, Illinois is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 7.9% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Elgin?

The average home value in Elgin, Illinois is $303,000, with average annual property taxes of $7,230, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Elgin compare to other areas?

You can compare Elgin, Illinois with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Elgin 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 Elgin 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