salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 3.3 years of household income. Most homes (78.8%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $111,040 a year. That is $53 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 317 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Darien?
Share of households by yearly income. 43.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Darien
| Size | Darien | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,469 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,348 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,648 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,724 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,129 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Darien 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 Darien, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Darien
Life in Darien
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Darien?
About the same. Renting and owning cost within $10 of each other each month.
Owning assumes a typical $398,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $39,870 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Darien, IL?
Renting in Darien costs a median of about $2,776 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Darien?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $111,040 a year, or $53 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Darien cheap or expensive?
Darien is rated OK: rent takes 27.8% of the typical household income of $119,945. It ranks 317th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Darien?
The median homeowner in Darien pays $7,119 a year in property taxes, about 1.79% of the median home value.
Is Darien 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 Darien?
The median home value in Darien is $398,700, about 3.3 times the typical yearly household income.
21,879 people live in Darien. Numbers are typical (middle) values.