| Index | Cary | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 111 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 136 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Cary? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Cary stands at 111, making it 11% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Cary cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 35.6% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Cary an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Cary is 36.3% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 34.1% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Cary has a median household income of $160,056, which is 96.8% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.
Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Cary, the transportation index is 0.1% lower than the national average.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Cary, the utilities index registers 0.7% lower than the national average.
The Cary 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 | $169,880 | $14,157 | $3,964 | $5,097 |
| Renters | $79,125 | $6,594 | $1,846 | $2,374 |
| 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. |
| Round Lake Park, IL | 8,005 | 95 | 5.3% |
| McCullom Lake, IL | 1,222 | 97 | 2.5% |
| Round Lake Beach, IL | 28,313 | 98 | 1.7% |
| Wonder Lake, IL | 4,084 | 99 | 0.6% |
| Long Lake, IL | 3,173 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Cary, IL | 18,372 | 111 | 10.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Elizabeth City, NC | 18,364 | 100 | 0.4% |
| Amsterdam, NY | 18,359 | 95 | 4.6% |
| Scarsdale, NY | 18,390 | 281 | 181.1% |
| Portland, TX | 18,353 | 104 | 4.3% |
| West Columbia, SC | 18,344 | 96 | 3.9% |
| Cary, IL | 18,372 | 111 | 10.9% |
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