salaryRent is lower than in 65% of U.S. cities. That makes it a rare mix of above-average pay and below-average rent. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Most homes (84.8%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $54,640 a year. That is $26 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Illinois cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Illinois. It is number 136 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Cary?
Share of households by yearly income. 46.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Cary
| Size | Cary | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,192 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,668 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,430 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,488 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Cary 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 Cary, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Cary
Life in Cary
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cary?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $784 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $309,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $30,980 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Cary, IL?
Renting in Cary costs a median of about $1,366 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Cary?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $54,640 a year, or $26 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Cary cheap or expensive?
Cary is rated Cheap: rent takes 13.4% of the typical household income of $121,899. It ranks 136th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Cary?
The median homeowner in Cary pays $8,089 a year in property taxes, about 2.61% of the median home value.
Is Cary 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 Cary?
The median home value in Cary is $309,800, about 2.5 times the typical yearly household income.
17,923 people live in Cary. Numbers are typical (middle) values.