| Index | Palos Hills | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 104 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 95 | 100 | 100 |

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Palos Hills? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Palos Hills stands at 104, making it 4% 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.
The cost of living in Palos Hills is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, household expenses and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.
Is Palos Hills 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 Palos Hills, for instance, where the median home price falls 10.9% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 12.7% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Palos Hills flaunting a median household income of $94,234, 15.9% higher than the national norm.
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: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Palos Hills, the utilities index is 2.5% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Palos Hills, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6.25%, and income tax rates start at 4.95%.
The Palos Hills 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 | $102,790 | $8,566 | $2,398 | $3,084 |
| Renters | $76,294 | $6,358 | $1,780 | $2,289 |
| 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. |
| Hodgkins, IL | 1,817 | 83 | 16.9% |
| Ford Heights, IL | 2,801 | 83 | 16.6% |
| Phoenix, IL | 1,450 | 85 | 14.6% |
| Dixmoor, IL | 3,663 | 87 | 12.6% |
| Harvey, IL | 24,931 | 87 | 13.2% |
| Palos Hills, IL | 17,664 | 104 | 3.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Tifton, GA | 17,666 | 90 | 10.4% |
| Mount Pleasant, TX | 17,666 | 89 | 11.4% |
| Neabsco, VA | 17,659 | 132 | 31.8% |
| Tavares, FL | 17,657 | 99 | 0.5% |
| Winder, GA | 17,650 | 98 | 1.8% |
| Palos Hills, IL | 17,664 | 104 | 3.9% |