F
31%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
89%
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 Morton Grove Illinois National
Cost of living13198100
Goods & Services11098100
Groceries104100100
Health care116102100
Housing18995100
Transportation104102100
Utilities9598100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Morton Grove, IL

Understanding the cost of living in Morton Grove can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Morton Grove cost of living index is 131, which is 31% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Morton Grove may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Morton Grove falls within this bracket.

When it comes to the cost of living in Morton Grove, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 89.2% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Morton Grove, these items will cost you 10.2% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Morton Grove?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 5 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Morton Grove and this is how they responded. 40% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 60% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Morton Grove Affordable?

Is Morton Grove 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 Morton Grove, the median home price is 78.9% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 113.3% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Morton Grove come in at $129,357, which is 59% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Morton Grove?

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.

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Morton Grove, the transportation index is 4.3% 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 Morton Grove, healthcare costs are 15.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Morton Grove 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 Morton Grove is 34% higher than the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in Morton Grove is 31% higher than the national average
  • Morton Grove housing is 89% 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 Morton Grove

See all the best places to live around Morton Grove

Compare Morton Grove, 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$138,791$11,566$3,238$4,164
      Renters$65,706$5,476$1,533$1,971
      The affordability of the housing market in Morton Grove, 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 Morton Grove homeowners, the median income is $138,791. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $3,238 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $65,706. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,533 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 Morton Grove 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 Morton Grove 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 Morton Grove 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 Morton Grove National avg. Difference
      Home Price $584,432.00$326,622.0078.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,929.74$2,480.2518.1%
      Apartment Rent $3,080.00$1,444.00113.3%

      Transportation

      Item Morton Grove National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.20$3.064.7%
      Tire Balancing $67.63$65.213.7%

      Utilities

      Item Morton Grove 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.
      Maywood, IL23,9861021.6%
      Broadview, IL7,8411033.0%
      Bellwood, IL19,2871033.0%
      Cicero, IL84,3201043.8%
      Berkeley, IL5,2661044.2%
      Morton Grove, IL23,47913131.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Junction City, KS23,460937.4%
      Acworth, GA23,4591022.2%
      New Brighton, MN23,4591098.7%
      Kingsville, ON23,502n/a 
      Winter Gardens, CA23,44715251.7%
      Morton Grove, IL23,47913131.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.