States › Illinois › West Chicago

Is West Chicago, IL expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 20 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,7681% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$107,771about $8,981/month · 24% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$336,8001% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 56% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.1 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $70,720 a year. That is $34 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 222 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

West Chicago
$1,768
Alton
$1,138
Belvidere
$1,212
Woodstock
$1,401
Morton Grove
$2,393
Zion
$1,366
Melrose Park
$1,333

How much do households earn in West Chicago?

Under $25k
11.1%
$25k–50k
15.9%
$50k–100k
30.4%
$100k–150k
23.2%
$150k+
17.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 40.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in West Chicago

SizeWest ChicagoU.S. average
Studio$1,449$1,338
1 bedroom$1,372$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,566$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,908$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,978$2,098

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

How expensive is West Chicago 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 West Chicago, so the Illinois figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in West Chicago

🏛️ Property tax$8,277a year · 2.46% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$123a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in West Chicago

Commute to work26.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree32.2%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home70.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line13%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment9.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Chicago?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $569 a month less.

Renting
$1,768
Owning
$2,337

Owning assumes a typical $336,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $33,680 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in West Chicago, IL?

Renting in West Chicago costs a median of about $1,768 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.

How much do I need to make to live in West Chicago?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $70,720 a year, or $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is West Chicago cheap or expensive?

West Chicago is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.7% of the typical household income of $107,771. It ranks 222nd cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.

How much are property taxes in West Chicago?

The median homeowner in West Chicago pays $8,277 a year in property taxes, about 2.46% of the median home value.

Is West Chicago 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 West Chicago?

The median home value in West Chicago is $336,800, about 3.1 times the typical yearly household income.

25,395 people live in West Chicago. Numbers are typical (middle) values.