salaryRent is lower than in 75% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.1 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 16.5 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $48,440 a year. That is $23 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 92 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Normal?
Share of households by yearly income. 24.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Normal
| Size | Normal | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,131 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $974 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,092 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,187 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $947 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Normal 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 Normal, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Normal
Life in Normal
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Normal?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $271 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $213,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $21,360 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Normal, IL?
Renting in Normal costs a median of about $1,211 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Normal?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $48,440 a year, or $23 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Normal cheap or expensive?
Normal is rated OK: rent takes 20.8% of the typical household income of $69,871. It ranks 92nd cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Normal?
The median homeowner in Normal pays $4,749 a year in property taxes, about 2.22% of the median home value.
Is Normal 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 Normal?
The median home value in Normal is $213,600, about 3.1 times the typical yearly household income.
53,569 people live in Normal. Numbers are typical (middle) values.