D-
21%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
57%
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 Hoffman Estates Illinois National
Cost of living12198100
Goods & Services11098100
Groceries104100100
Health care116102100
Housing15795100
Transportation104102100
Utilities9598100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Hoffman Estates, IL

The cost of living in Hoffman Estates 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 Hoffman Estates is 121, which is 21% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Hoffman Estates is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Hoffman Estates falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs significantly influence the Hoffman Estates 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 56.9%. 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 Hoffman Estates, 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 Hoffman Estates Affordable?

Is Hoffman Estates affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Hoffman Estates, for instance, where the median home price falls 60.2% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 49.4% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Hoffman Estates flaunting a median household income of $137,278, 68.8% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Hoffman Estates?

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Hoffman Estates, the transportation index is 4.3% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Hoffman Estates, the groceries index is 3.6% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Hoffman Estates, healthcare costs are 15.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Hoffman Estates displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Hoffman Estates is 24% higher than the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in Hoffman Estates is 21% higher than the national average
  • Hoffman Estates housing is 57% 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 Hoffman Estates

See all the best places to live around Hoffman Estates

Compare Hoffman Estates, 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$159,657$13,305$3,725$4,790
      Renters$109,921$9,160$2,565$3,298
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Hoffman Estates, 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 Hoffman Estates, the median monthly income is $159,657 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $3,725 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $109,921, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $2,565 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 Hoffman Estates 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 Hoffman Estates 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 Hoffman Estates 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 Hoffman Estates National avg. Difference
      Home Price $523,107.00$326,622.0060.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,929.74$2,480.2518.1%
      Apartment Rent $2,158.00$1,444.0049.4%

      Transportation

      Item Hoffman Estates National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.20$3.064.7%
      Tire Balancing $67.63$65.213.7%

      Utilities

      Item Hoffman Estates 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.
      Bellwood, IL19,2871033.0%
      Berkeley, IL5,2661044.2%
      Stone Park, IL4,9971044.4%
      Northlake, IL12,6961065.7%
      Carpentersville, IL38,3831076.8%
      Hoffman Estates, IL52,20112121.4%

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      Hoffman Estates, IL52,20112121.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.