Cost of Living in Cook County, Illinois
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Cook County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Cook County ranks #2,917 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 7%)
Sourced county brief
Cook County Median Gross Rent Estimated at 1,435 Dollars Monthly
Cook County's median gross rent was estimated at $1,435 per month. This figure is $568 above the Illinois unweighted county mean of $867. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 29.5%, which is 3.4 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 26.1%. For owner-occupied housing, the median home value was $324,500, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $153,020. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,708, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $960. The median income for renter households was $55,388. All statistics are sourced from the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Cook County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.5% of renter household income in Cook County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,435 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,708. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $57,400 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Illinois unweighted mean of county median rents is $867 per month. Cook County's $1,435 median is 65.4% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Cook County
Rent Burden
20.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,948
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.5%
of gross income
The median home in Cook County may be a stretch
Median home value is $324,500. Estimated monthly cost: $2,591 vs. your max of $1,948.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Cook County, Illinois?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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