A+
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
1%
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 Homewood Illinois National
Cost of living9898100
Goods & Services9598100
Groceries102100100
Health care106102100
Housing10195100
Transportation100102100
Utilities9298100
Does this Area Fit Your Budget? Local Insights Report
  • Know the community before you call it home
  • Compare multiple areas side by side
  • Access over 300 data points for any address
Local Insights Report

An Overview of Cost of Living in Homewood, IL

The cost of living in Homewood 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 Homewood is 98, which is 2% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

In Homewood, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Homewood will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Homewood Affordable?

Is Homewood 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 Homewood, for instance, where the median home price falls 9.2% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 23.5% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Homewood flaunting a median household income of $117,006, 43.9% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Homewood?

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.

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as 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 with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

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 Homewood, the utilities index registers 7.9% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Homewood cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Homewood is equal to the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in Homewood is 2% lower than the national average
  • Homewood housing is 1% 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 Homewood

See all the best places to live around Homewood

Compare Homewood, IL Cost of Living

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report
      How would you rate the cost of living in Homewood?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Homewood?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Homewood poll results

      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$125,799$10,483$2,935$3,774
      Renters$75,333$6,278$1,758$2,260
      The affordability of the housing market in Homewood, IL as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Homewood homeowners, the median income is $125,799. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,935 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $75,333. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,758 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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 Homewood National avg. Difference
      Haircut $34.68$27.6225.6%
      Beauty Salon $49.26$51.113.6%
      Toothpaste $4.20$4.092.6%
      Shampoo $1.57$1.541.8%
      Movie $13.38$12.883.9%
      Yoga $19.19$19.662.4%

      Groceries

      Item Homewood National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.75$7.700.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.55$1.666.8%
      Milk $4.91$4.733.7%
      Potatoes $5.39$5.262.5%
      Pizza $12.49$12.762.1%
      Beer $10.64$10.550.9%

      Health Care

      Item Homewood National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $172.44$140.0623.1%
      Doctor $185.97$153.8220.9%
      Dentist $118.42$123.153.8%
      Ibuprofen $11.87$11.731.2%
      Lipitor $22.73$23.613.7%

      Housing

      Item Homewood National avg. Difference
      Home Price $296,585.00$326,622.009.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,634.41$2,480.2534.1%
      Apartment Rent $1,783.00$1,444.0023.5%

      Transportation

      Item Homewood National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.16$3.063.6%
      Tire Balancing $60.21$65.217.7%

      Utilities

      Item Homewood National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $188.19$220.1214.5%
      Phone $201.97$195.713.2%
      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%
      East Chicago, IN28,8358910.8%
      Phoenix, IL1,4509010.0%
      Dixmoor, IL3,663918.7%
      Homewood, IL19,234981.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lake Shore, MD19,23913635.9%
      Durant, OK19,2218614.3%
      Terrell, TX19,247973.0%
      Jacksonville, IL19,2188713.3%
      Concord, MO19,2511021.5%
      Homewood, IL19,234981.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.