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Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Cost of living in McHenry County, IL

Part of the Chicago Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,802/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 311,366 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,560 41%
Federal tax $662 17%
Healthcare $480 13%
Groceries $345 9%
Transport $320 8%
State tax $208 5%
Energy $177 5%
Water $50 1%

Rent in McHenry County

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 McHenry County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$102,836
per year
Individual earnings
$50,502
per year
Per capita
$48,275
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in McHenry County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$286,900
Annual property tax
$7,153

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in McHenry 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 McHenry County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
4.7%

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 McHenry 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 McHenry County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
30.6 min
Drive alone
74.9%
Public transit
1.4%
Work from home
14.7%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for McHenry County

What it costs to live in McHenry County each month.

Single person
$3,802
per month
  • Rent $1,560
  • Energy $177
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $345
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $662
  • State tax $208
Couple
$5,666
per month
  • Rent $1,761
  • Energy $212
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $572
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,353
  • State tax $424
Family
$8,312
per month
  • Rent $2,262
  • Energy $266
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $867
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,353
  • State tax $424

Frequently asked questions about McHenry County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in McHenry County?

In McHenry County, IL, 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 McHenry County?

In McHenry County, IL, the average household income is $102,836 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $50,502 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in McHenry County?

The estimated cost of living in McHenry County, IL is approximately $3,802 per month for a single person, $5,666 for a couple, $8,312 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in McHenry County?

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

Is McHenry County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in McHenry County, IL would need approximately $3,802 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $102,836 per year ($8,570 per month). McHenry County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in McHenry County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in McHenry County, IL is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 4.7% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in McHenry County?

The average home value in McHenry County, IL is $286,900, with average annual property taxes of $7,153, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does McHenry County compare to other areas?

You can compare McHenry County, IL with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. McHenry 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 McHenry 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