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Ottawa, IL

Cost of living in Putnam County, IL

Estimated monthly cost
$2,842/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 5,600 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $756 27%
Federal tax $537 19%
Healthcare $480 17%
Groceries $345 12%
Transport $320 11%
Energy $177 6%
State tax $177 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Putnam County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$597
per month
1 bedroom
$756
per month
2 bedroom
$870
per month
3 bedroom
$1,136
per month
4 bedroom
$1,461
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Putnam County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$77,526
per year
Individual earnings
$42,861
per year
Per capita
$40,036
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Putnam County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$167,800
Annual property tax
$2,668

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Putnam 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 Putnam County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
3.1%

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 Putnam 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 Putnam County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
26.9 min
Drive alone
87.8%
Public transit
0.1%
Work from home
5.8%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Putnam County

What it costs to live in Putnam County each month.

Single person
$2,842
per month
  • Rent $756
  • Energy $177
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $345
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $537
  • State tax $177
Couple
$4,257
per month
  • Rent $870
  • Energy $212
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $572
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $939
  • State tax $320
Family
$6,668
per month
  • Rent $1,136
  • Energy $266
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $867
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $939
  • State tax $320

Frequently asked questions about Putnam County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Putnam County?

In Putnam County, IL, a one-bedroom apartment averages $756 per month, a two-bedroom averages $870 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,136 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Putnam County?

In Putnam County, IL, the average household income is $77,526 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $42,861 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Putnam County?

The estimated cost of living in Putnam County, IL is approximately $2,842 per month for a single person, $4,257 for a couple, $6,668 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Putnam County?

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

Is Putnam County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Putnam County, IL would need approximately $2,842 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $77,526 per year ($6,461 per month). Putnam County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Putnam County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Putnam County, IL is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 3.1% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Putnam County?

The average home value in Putnam County, IL is $167,800, with average annual property taxes of $2,668, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Putnam County compare to other areas?

You can compare Putnam County, IL with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Putnam County is in the Ottawa, IL 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 Putnam 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