| Index | Carol Stream | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 113 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 142 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 100 | 100 |
The cost of living in Carol Stream affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Carol Stream is 113, which is 13% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Carol Stream, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 42.1% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Wondering if Carol Stream is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Carol Stream, for example, the median home price is 45.2% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 35% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Carol Stream boasting a median household income of $132,302, which is 62.7% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Carol Stream, the general sales tax rate starts at 6.25%, and income tax rates begin at 4.95%.
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 Carol Stream, the utilities index registers at 2.1% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Carol Stream, healthcare costs are 1.1% higher than the national average.
The Carol Stream cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $155,624 | $12,969 | $3,631 | $4,669 |
| Renters | $90,366 | $7,531 | $2,108 | $2,711 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Illinois | 6.25% | 10.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Illinois | 4.95% | 4.95% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Hodgkins, IL | 1,817 | 83 | 16.9% |
| Maywood, IL | 23,986 | 96 | 3.6% |
| Broadview, IL | 7,841 | 99 | 0.9% |
| Bellwood, IL | 19,287 | 99 | 1.0% |
| Berkeley, IL | 5,266 | 100 | 0.2% |
| Carol Stream, IL | 40,500 | 113 | 13.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| New Tecumseth, ON | 40,488 | n/a | |
| Spruce Grove, AB | 40,533 | n/a | |
| Royal Palm Beach, FL | 40,430 | 121 | 21.3% |
| Duncanville, TX | 40,397 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Milton, GA | 40,389 | 145 | 44.8% |
| Carol Stream, IL | 40,500 | 113 | 13.0% |
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