salaryRent is higher than in 79% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 86% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Most homes (79.8%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 68.6% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $91,720 a year. That is $44 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 301 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Buffalo Grove?
Share of households by yearly income. 51.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Buffalo Grove
| Size | Buffalo Grove | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,619 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,763 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,237 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,984 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,404 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Buffalo Grove overall?
Everyday prices in Illinois overall are same as the U.S. average (index 100.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Buffalo Grove, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Buffalo Grove
Life in Buffalo Grove
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Buffalo Grove?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $568 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $412,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $41,230 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Buffalo Grove, IL?
Renting in Buffalo Grove costs a median of about $2,293 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Buffalo Grove?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $91,720 a year, or $44 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Buffalo Grove cheap or expensive?
Buffalo Grove is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.7% of the typical household income of $139,553. It ranks 301st cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Buffalo Grove?
The median homeowner in Buffalo Grove pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 2.43% of the median home value.
Is Buffalo Grove 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 Buffalo Grove?
The median home value in Buffalo Grove is $412,300, about 3.0 times the typical yearly household income.
42,891 people live in Buffalo Grove. Numbers are typical (middle) values.