salaryRent is lower than in 61% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are long, about 38.2 minutes each way. Most homes (90%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $57,920 a year. That is $28 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 152 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Crete?
Share of households by yearly income. 36.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Crete
| Size | Crete | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $859 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,626 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,876 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Crete 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 Crete, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Crete
Life in Crete
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Crete?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $137 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $228,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $22,850 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Crete, IL?
Renting in Crete costs a median of about $1,448 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Crete?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $57,920 a year, or $28 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Crete cheap or expensive?
Crete is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.6% of the typical household income of $104,773. It ranks 152nd cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Crete?
The median homeowner in Crete pays $6,760 a year in property taxes, about 2.96% of the median home value.
Is Crete 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 Crete?
The median home value in Crete is $228,500, about 2.2 times the typical yearly household income.
8,386 people live in Crete. Numbers are typical (middle) values.