States › Illinois › Berkeley

Is Berkeley, IL expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 21 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,58610% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$92,560about $7,713/month · 6% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$246,90026% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 53% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Most homes (82%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $63,440 a year. That is $31 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Illinois cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Illinois. It is number 185 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Berkeley
$1,586
Pana
$756
Colona
$927
Grandwood Park
$2,030
Monee
$1,633
Posen
$1,517
Highwood
$2,101

How much do households earn in Berkeley?

Under $25k
12.5%
$25k–50k
13.6%
$50k–100k
44.3%
$100k–150k
21.5%
$150k+
7.3%

Share of households by yearly income. 28.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Berkeley overall?

Everyday prices in Illinois overall are same as the U.S. average (index 100.0, U.S. = 100).

Housing
94
Goods (food, clothes…)
104
Utilities
85
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Berkeley, so the Illinois figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Berkeley

🏛️ Property tax$6,224a year · 2.52% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$101a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Berkeley

Commute to work27.6 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree18.6%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home82%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line17.5%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Berkeley?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $127 a month less.

Renting
$1,586
Owning
$1,713

Owning assumes a typical $246,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $24,690 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Berkeley, IL?

Renting in Berkeley costs a median of about $1,586 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.

How much do I need to make to live in Berkeley?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $63,440 a year, or $31 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Berkeley cheap or expensive?

Berkeley is rated OK: rent takes 20.6% of the typical household income of $92,560. It ranks 185th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Berkeley?

The median homeowner in Berkeley pays $6,224 a year in property taxes, about 2.52% of the median home value.

Is Berkeley more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Illinois are same as the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Berkeley?

The median home value in Berkeley is $246,900, about 2.7 times the typical yearly household income.

5,199 people live in Berkeley. Numbers are typical (middle) values.