C+
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
22%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Hickory Hills Illinois National
Cost of living11198100
Goods & Services11098100
Groceries104100100
Health care116102100
Housing12295100
Transportation104102100
Utilities9598100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Hickory Hills, IL

Knowing the cost of living in Hickory Hills 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 Hickory Hills stands at 111, marking it 11% higher than the national average.

Housing costs significantly influence the Hickory Hills cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 22.3%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Hickory Hills, you you will have to spend 10.2% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Is Hickory Hills Affordable?

Is Hickory Hills an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Hickory Hills, the median home price is 30.9% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 2.3% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Hickory Hills come in at $96,934, which is 19.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Hickory Hills?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Hickory Hills comes in at 5.5% lower 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 Hickory Hills, healthcare costs are 15.8% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Hickory Hills, the transportation index is 4.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Hickory Hills, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Hickory Hills is 14% higher than the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in Hickory Hills is 11% higher than the national average
  • Hickory Hills housing is 22% higher than the national average
  • Illinois general sales tax is 22% higher than the national average
  • Illinois state income tax is 91% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Hickory Hills

See all the best places to live around Hickory Hills

Compare Hickory Hills, IL Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$122,338$10,195$2,854$3,671
      Renters$64,908$5,409$1,514$1,947
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Hickory Hills, IL, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Hickory Hills, the median monthly income is $122,338 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,854 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $64,908, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,514 on monthly rental expenses.

      Illinois Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Illinois 6.25% 10.25%

      Illinois Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Illinois 4.95% 4.95%

      Goods & Services

      Item Hickory Hills National avg. Difference
      Haircut $49.08$27.6277.7%
      Beauty Salon $68.42$51.1133.9%
      Toothpaste $4.13$4.090.9%
      Shampoo $1.56$1.541.2%
      Movie $17.42$12.8835.3%
      Yoga $28.87$19.6646.8%

      Groceries

      Item Hickory Hills National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.53$7.702.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.56$1.666.2%
      Milk $4.88$4.733.1%
      Potatoes $5.20$5.261.1%
      Pizza $13.97$12.769.5%
      Beer $10.56$10.550.1%

      Health Care

      Item Hickory Hills National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $208.97$140.0649.2%
      Doctor $194.67$153.8226.6%
      Dentist $135.44$123.1510.0%
      Ibuprofen $12.22$11.734.2%
      Lipitor $24.14$23.612.2%

      Housing

      Item Hickory Hills National avg. Difference
      Home Price $427,540.00$326,622.0030.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,929.74$2,480.2518.1%
      Apartment Rent $1,477.00$1,444.002.3%

      Transportation

      Item Hickory Hills National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.20$3.064.7%
      Tire Balancing $67.63$65.213.7%

      Utilities

      Item Hickory Hills National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $188.44$220.1214.4%
      Phone $213.97$195.719.3%
      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.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Hodgkins, IL1,8178713.0%
      Ford Heights, IL2,8018712.5%
      Phoenix, IL1,4509010.0%
      Dixmoor, IL3,663918.7%
      Harvey, IL24,931918.6%
      Hickory Hills, IL14,63511111.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lindenhurst, IL14,63711414.4%
      Fruitville, FL14,63011817.5%
      Chippewa Falls, WI14,630954.5%
      Anna, TX14,62511717.2%
      Johnstown, CO14,65512928.9%
      Hickory Hills, IL14,63511111.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.