Cost of Living in Berwyn, IL

Homes For Sale In Berwyn, IL

An Overview of Cost of Living in Berwyn, IL

Knowing the cost of living in Berwyn allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Berwyn stands at 110, marking it 10% higher than the national average.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Berwyn, these items will cost you 10.2% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Berwyn?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 6 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Berwyn. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 17% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 83% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Berwyn Affordable?

Is Berwyn affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Berwyn, for instance, where the median home price falls 25.8% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 6% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Berwyn flaunting a median household income of $91,432, 12.4% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Berwyn?

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Berwyn, the transportation index is 4.3% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Berwyn, the groceries index is 3.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Berwyn 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Berwyn

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Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Berwyn, 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 Berwyn homeowners, is $122,342. This would allow for a maximum of $2,854 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $58,602 which would result in a maximum of $1,367 to be spent on rental costs.

Illinois Sales Tax

Illinois Income Tax

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Groceries

Health Care

Housing

Transportation

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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.

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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.