| Index | Gurnee | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 112 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 143 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 100 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Gurnee? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Gurnee stands at 112, making it 12% 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 make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Gurnee, 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 42.7% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Wondering if Gurnee 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 Gurnee, for example, the median home price is 48.2% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 29.8% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Gurnee boasting a median household income of $147,750, which is 81.7% 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.
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 Gurnee, the general sales tax rate starts at 6.25%, and income tax rates begin at 4.95%.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
The Gurnee 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.
| 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 | $189,347 | $15,779 | $4,418 | $5,681 |
| Renters | $82,863 | $6,905 | $1,933 | $2,486 |
| 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. |
| Park City, IL | 7,894 | 82 | 18.2% |
| North Chicago, IL | 30,865 | 95 | 5.0% |
| Round Lake Park, IL | 8,005 | 95 | 5.3% |
| Waukegan, IL | 90,063 | 96 | 4.1% |
| Zion, IL | 24,329 | 96 | 3.7% |
| Gurnee, IL | 31,504 | 112 | 12.0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Fleming Island, FL | 31,515 | 119 | 19.4% |
| Kingman, AZ | 31,489 | 99 | 0.6% |
| Granger, IN | 31,533 | 104 | 3.8% |
| Galesburg, IL | 31,538 | 84 | 15.8% |
| Saint-Constant, QC | 31,461 | n/a | |
| Gurnee, IL | 31,504 | 112 | 12.0% |
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