| Index | Darien | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 122 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 175 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 102 | 100 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Darien 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 Darien is 122, which is 22% higher 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.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Darien may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Darien falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Darien, 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 74.6% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Is Darien 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 Darien is 83.8% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 52.9% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Darien has a median household income of $150,081, which is 84.5% higher than the national average.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Darien, the housing index comes in at 74.6% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Darien, healthcare costs are 1.7% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.
The Darien cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| 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 | $157,830 | $13,153 | $3,682 | $4,735 |
| Renters | $83,721 | $6,977 | $1,953 | $2,512 |
| 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% |
| Hometown, IL | 4,350 | 89 | 11.2% |
| Robbins, IL | 5,241 | 89 | 10.5% |
| Merrionette Park, IL | 2,017 | 93 | 6.6% |
| Fairmont, IL | 2,777 | 94 | 6.0% |
| Darien, IL | 22,419 | 122 | 21.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Saint-Lambert, QC | 22,414 | n/a | |
| Scugog, ON | 22,436 | n/a | |
| West Rancho Dominguez, CA | 22,441 | 141 | 40.9% |
| Marina, CA | 22,443 | 159 | 58.9% |
| Lexington, SC | 22,445 | 103 | 2.7% |
| Darien, IL | 22,419 | 122 | 21.6% |
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