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Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Cost of living in Waukegan, Illinois

Lake County, IL

Part of the Chicago Metro Area

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

Population 711,885 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,560 42%
Federal tax $659 18%
Healthcare $480 13%
Groceries $345 9%
Transport $250 7%
State tax $208 6%
Energy $177 5%
Water $50 1%

Rent in Waukegan

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 Waukegan

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$108,917
per year
Individual earnings
$50,322
per year
Per capita
$55,756
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Waukegan

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$326,600
Annual property tax
$8,743

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Waukegan

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 Waukegan

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.9%

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 Waukegan

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 Waukegan

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
28.8 min
Drive alone
68.0%
Public transit
2.8%
Work from home
17.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Waukegan

What it costs to live in Waukegan each month.

Single person
$3,729
per month
  • Rent $1,560
  • Energy $177
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $345
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $659
  • State tax $208
Couple
$5,721
per month
  • Rent $1,761
  • Energy $212
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $572
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,453
  • State tax $449
Family
$8,367
per month
  • Rent $2,262
  • Energy $266
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $867
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,453
  • State tax $449

Frequently asked questions about Waukegan

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Waukegan?

In Waukegan, 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 Waukegan?

In Waukegan, Illinois, the average household income is $108,917 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $50,322 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Waukegan?

The estimated cost of living in Waukegan, Illinois is approximately $3,729 per month for a single person, $5,721 for a couple, $8,367 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Waukegan?

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

Is Waukegan an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Waukegan, Illinois would need approximately $3,729 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $108,917 per year ($9,076 per month). Waukegan is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Waukegan?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Waukegan, Illinois is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.9% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Waukegan?

The average home value in Waukegan, Illinois is $326,600, with average annual property taxes of $8,743, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Waukegan compare to other areas?

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