salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 92% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.4 years of household income. Most homes (79.9%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 64.2% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $113,080 a year. That is $54 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 318 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Elmhurst?
Share of households by yearly income. 57.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Elmhurst
| Size | Elmhurst | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,783 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,701 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,139 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,703 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,197 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Elmhurst
Life in Elmhurst
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Elmhurst?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $957 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $545,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $54,540 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Elmhurst, IL?
Renting in Elmhurst costs a median of about $2,827 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Elmhurst?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $113,080 a year, or $54 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Elmhurst cheap or expensive?
Elmhurst is rated OK: rent takes 21.0% of the typical household income of $161,391. It ranks 318th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Elmhurst?
The median homeowner in Elmhurst pays $9,466 a year in property taxes, about 1.74% of the median home value.
Is Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst?
The median home value in Elmhurst is $545,400, about 3.4 times the typical yearly household income.
45,671 people live in Elmhurst. Numbers are typical (middle) values.