| Index | Plano | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 96 | 100 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Plano? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Plano stands at 102, making it 2% 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.
In Plano, daily expenses such as food, housing, lifestyle expenses, 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 Plano will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Is Plano 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 Plano, the median home price is 3.1% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 39% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Plano come in at $118,624, which is 45.8% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Plano, the housing index is 9.5% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Plano starts at 6.25% and the income tax rates start at 4.95%.
The cost of living data for Plano shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| 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 | $121,998 | $10,167 | $2,846 | $3,660 |
| Renters | $100,707 | $8,392 | $2,350 | $3,022 |
| 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. |
| Leland, IL | 964 | 96 | 4.4% |
| Sheridan, IL | 2,894 | 97 | 3.3% |
| Waterman, IL | 1,801 | 98 | 2.5% |
| Newark, IL | 1,376 | 98 | 2.3% |
| Lisbon, IL | 291 | 99 | 1.2% |
| Plano, IL | 11,422 | 102 | 2.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Bolivar, MO | 11,421 | 89 | 11.1% |
| Selkirk, MB | 11,428 | n/a | |
| Satellite Beach, FL | 11,431 | 126 | 26.4% |
| Weddington, NC | 11,409 | 148 | 47.8% |
| Kaneohe Station, HI | 11,404 | 171 | 71.5% |
| Plano, IL | 11,422 | 102 | 2.2% |
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