States › Illinois › Highland

Is Highland, IL expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 15 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,10637% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$89,031about $7,419/month · 2% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$202,90039% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 82% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $44,240 a year. That is $21 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 75 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Highland
$1,106
Wood River
$1,297
Lyons
$1,325
Riverdale
$1,307
Winfield
$1,651
River Grove
$1,253
Mahomet
$1,670

How much do households earn in Highland?

Under $25k
15.0%
$25k–50k
18.8%
$50k–100k
37.8%
$100k–150k
14.7%
$150k+
10.9%

Share of households by yearly income. 25.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Highland

SizeHighlandU.S. average
1 bedroom$748$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,010$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,508$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Highland overall?

Everyday prices in Illinois overall are same as the U.S. average (index 100.0, U.S. = 100).

Housing
94
Goods (food, clothes…)
104
Utilities
85
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Highland, so the Illinois figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Highland

🏛️ Property tax$3,908a year · 1.93% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$147a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Highland

Commute to work27.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree35.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home72.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment1%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Highland?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $302 a month less.

Renting
$1,106
Owning
$1,408

Owning assumes a typical $202,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $20,290 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Highland, IL?

Renting in Highland costs a median of about $1,106 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.

How much do I need to make to live in Highland?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $44,240 a year, or $21 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Highland cheap or expensive?

Highland is rated Cheap: rent takes 14.9% of the typical household income of $89,031. It ranks 75th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Highland?

The median homeowner in Highland pays $3,908 a year in property taxes, about 1.93% of the median home value.

Is Highland 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 Highland?

The median home value in Highland is $202,900, about 2.3 times the typical yearly household income.

10,262 people live in Highland. Numbers are typical (middle) values.