salaryRent is lower than in 62% 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 $57,240 a year. That is $28 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 150 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Waukegan?
Share of households by yearly income. 22.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Waukegan
| Size | Waukegan | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,093 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,105 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,351 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,599 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,923 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Waukegan 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 Waukegan, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Waukegan
Life in Waukegan
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Waukegan?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $106 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $190,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $19,090 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Waukegan, IL?
Renting in Waukegan costs a median of about $1,431 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Waukegan?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $57,240 a year, or $28 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Waukegan cheap or expensive?
Waukegan is rated OK: rent takes 22.1% of the typical household income of $77,565. It ranks 150th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Waukegan?
The median homeowner in Waukegan pays $4,759 a year in property taxes, about 2.49% of the median home value.
Is Waukegan 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 Waukegan?
The median home value in Waukegan is $190,900, about 2.5 times the typical yearly household income.
89,076 people live in Waukegan. Numbers are typical (middle) values.