salaryRent is higher than in 64% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.0 years of household income.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $76,760 a year. That is $37 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 253 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Carol Stream?
Share of households by yearly income. 40.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Carol Stream
| Size | Carol Stream | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,953 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,397 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,800 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,336 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,045 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Carol Stream 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 Carol Stream, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Carol Stream
Life in Carol Stream
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Carol Stream?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $405 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $335,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $33,500 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Carol Stream, IL?
Renting in Carol Stream costs a median of about $1,919 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Carol Stream?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $76,760 a year, or $37 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Carol Stream cheap or expensive?
Carol Stream is rated OK: rent takes 20.9% of the typical household income of $110,340. It ranks 253rd cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Carol Stream?
The median homeowner in Carol Stream pays $7,987 a year in property taxes, about 2.38% of the median home value.
Is Carol Stream 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 Carol Stream?
The median home value in Carol Stream is $335,000, about 3.0 times the typical yearly household income.
39,460 people live in Carol Stream. Numbers are typical (middle) values.