salaryRent is lower than in 83% 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 $43,360 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 70 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Ottawa?
Share of households by yearly income. 24.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Ottawa
| Size | Ottawa | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $731 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,052 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,453 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,486 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Ottawa 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 Ottawa, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Ottawa
Life in Ottawa
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ottawa?
About the same. Renting and owning cost within $15 of each other each month.
Owning assumes a typical $154,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $15,400 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Ottawa, IL?
Renting in Ottawa costs a median of about $1,084 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Ottawa?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $43,360 a year, or $21 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Ottawa cheap or expensive?
Ottawa is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.9% of the typical household income of $77,019. It ranks 70th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Ottawa?
The median homeowner in Ottawa pays $4,011 a year in property taxes, about 2.60% of the median home value.
Is Ottawa 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 Ottawa?
The median home value in Ottawa is $154,000, about 2.0 times the typical yearly household income.
18,447 people live in Ottawa. Numbers are typical (middle) values.