A-
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
24%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Blue Island Illinois National
Cost of living9696100
Goods & Services10797100
Groceries10498100
Health care10895100
Housing7695100
Transportation107103100
Utilities8989100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Blue Island, IL

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Blue Island is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Blue Island is 96, which is 4% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Blue Island are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Blue Island can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Blue Island Affordable?

Is Blue Island an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Blue Island, the median home price is 31.3% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 5.5% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Blue Island come in at $51,859, which is 6.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Blue Island?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Blue Island, the utilities index registers at 10.8% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Blue Island, the groceries index is 3.5% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Blue Island, healthcare costs are 7.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Blue Island cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Blue Island is 1% lower than the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in Blue Island is 4% lower than the national average
  • Blue Island housing is 24% lower than the national average
  • Illinois general sales tax is 22% higher than the national average
  • Illinois state income tax is 119% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Blue Island

See all the best places to live around Blue Island

Compare Blue Island, IL Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$66,063$5,505$1,541$1,982
      Renters$35,923$2,994$838$1,078
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Blue Island, IL, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Blue Island homeowners, is $66,063. This would allow for a maximum of $1,541 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $35,923 which would result in a maximum of $838 to be spent on rental costs.

      Illinois Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Illinois 6.25% 10.25%

      Illinois Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Illinois 4.95% 4.95%

      Goods & Services

      Item Blue Island National avg. Difference
      Haircut $33.69$24.2638.9%
      Beauty Salon $53.44$45.5617.3%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.4%
      Shampoo $1.27$1.281.1%
      Movie $17.91$12.1347.6%
      Bowling $24.58$18.0036.6%

      Groceries

      Item Blue Island National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.28$5.849.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.42$1.579.7%
      Milk $4.87$4.674.3%
      Potatoes $4.90$4.930.7%
      Pizza $13.41$12.0910.9%
      Beer $10.00$10.414.0%

      Health Care

      Item Blue Island National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $118.27$125.685.9%
      Doctor $167.67$135.7823.5%
      Dentist $128.22$113.2913.2%
      Ibuprofen $10.97$10.652.9%
      Lipitor $382.34$468.6018.4%

      Housing

      Item Blue Island National avg. Difference
      Home Price $126,900.00$184,700.0031.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,578.06$2,346.699.9%
      Apartment Rent $897.00$949.005.5%

      Transportation

      Item Blue Island National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.56$3.462.7%
      Tire Balancing $70.87$59.9218.3%

      Utilities

      Item Blue Island National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $148.58$193.9923.4%
      Phone $210.03$192.259.3%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Hodgkins, IL1,7538514.6%
      Ford Heights, IL2,7058614.2%
      East Chicago, IN28,0448712.7%
      Phoenix, IL1,4028812.0%
      Dixmoor, IL3,5709010.2%
      Blue Island, IL23,160964.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Paradise, NL23,144n/a 
      Bluffton, SC23,17612121.3%
      Leesburg, FL23,142937.3%
      Clayton, NC23,1791021.9%
      Oxford, OH23,192955.5%
      Blue Island, IL23,160964.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.