F
54%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
171%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; 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 River Forest Illinois National
Cost of living15496100
Goods & Services10797100
Groceries10498100
Health care10895100
Housing27195100
Transportation107103100
Utilities8989100

An Overview of Cost of Living in River Forest, IL

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in River Forest? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in River Forest stands at 154, making it 54% 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.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, River Forest may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, River Forest falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the River Forest cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 170.6% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is River Forest Affordable?

Is River Forest an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in River Forest is 227.5% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 37.9% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. River Forest has a median household income of $125,288, which is 126.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in River Forest?

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In River Forest, the utilities index stands at 10.8% lower than the national average.

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.

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The River Forest cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in River Forest is 60% higher than the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in River Forest is 54% higher than the national average
  • River Forest housing is 171% 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 River Forest

See all the best places to live around River Forest

Compare River Forest, 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$148,077$12,340$3,455$4,443
      Renters$40,909$3,409$954$1,227
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in River Forest, IL, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for River Forest homeowners, is $148,077. This would allow for a maximum of $3,455 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $40,909 which would result in a maximum of $954 to be spent on rental 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 River Forest National avg. Difference
      Haircut $33.69$24.2638.9%
      Beauty Salon $53.44$45.5617.3%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.4%
      Shampoo $1.27$1.281.1%
      Movie $17.91$12.1347.6%
      Bowling $24.58$18.0036.6%

      Groceries

      Item River Forest National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.28$5.849.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.42$1.579.7%
      Milk $4.87$4.674.3%
      Potatoes $4.90$4.930.7%
      Pizza $13.41$12.0910.9%
      Beer $10.00$10.414.0%

      Health Care

      Item River Forest National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $118.27$125.685.9%
      Doctor $167.67$135.7823.5%
      Dentist $128.22$113.2913.2%
      Ibuprofen $10.97$10.652.9%
      Lipitor $382.34$468.6018.4%

      Housing

      Item River Forest National avg. Difference
      Home Price $604,900.00$184,700.00227.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,578.06$2,346.699.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,309.00$949.0037.9%

      Transportation

      Item River Forest National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.56$3.462.7%
      Tire Balancing $70.87$59.9218.3%

      Utilities

      Item River Forest National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $148.58$193.9923.4%
      Phone $210.03$192.259.3%
      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.
      Hodgkins, IL1,7538514.6%
      Hometown, IL4,216919.0%
      Merrionette Park, IL1,973964.4%
      Maywood, IL23,3511000.0%
      Bellwood, IL18,7991011.0%
      River Forest, IL10,88315453.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Sussex, WI10,88411313.1%
      Kings Mountain, NC10,885928.0%
      Malvern, AR10,8868416.2%
      Camden, AR10,8778218.1%
      Manchester, TN10,8968713.1%
      River Forest, IL10,88315453.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.