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Illinois cost of living & income (2026)

Quick answer: Illinois has a cost-of-living index of 95.1 (100 = national baseline), an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $47,550, median household income of $83,211, combined average sales tax about 8.82%, and regular gas about $4.214/gal in the June 2026 AAA snapshot used on the hub.

COL index95.1100 = US baseline
Est. annual COL$47,550
Median HH income$83,211
Sales tax (comb.)8.82%
Gas (87 octane)$4.214/galJune 2026 AAA
Largest cityChicago (2,664,452)

Taxes & economy

Income tax: Flat 4.95%

Sales tax: 6.25% state (combined avg. ~8.82%)

Major industries: Finance (Chicago), manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, technology, healthcare

Climate snapshot

Summer high ~84°F (July, Chicago area) · Winter low ~18°F (January)

Culture (context)

Art Institute of Chicago / Millennium Park

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What this means for you

What this means for you: a basket priced at 100 on the national baseline is indexed at 95.1 in Illinois. A salary that buys that basket at the baseline would need about 95.1% of that salary to buy the same basket here. That is index math from this snapshot, not a tax-equalized offer and not your rent.

Compare a salary: Illinois vs Texas on the explorer.

How to read this page

  1. Read the quick answer for Illinois' cost-of-living index, estimated annual cost, median income, sales tax, and gas price.
  2. Open the 50-state explorer and compare Illinois with another state. The salary line multiplies pay by the other index divided by this index.
  3. Use the mortgage, rent, and paycheck calculators with your own numbers. This page does not compute a tax return.

Related calculators: mortgage · rent · paycheck.

Related states

Similar cost-of-living index in this dataset:

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FAQ

What is Illinois' cost of living index?

Illinois' cost-of-living index is 95.1 (national baseline 100) in this 2026 classroom snapshot.

What is the estimated annual cost of living in Illinois?

The explorer lists an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $47,550 for Illinois.

What is median household income in Illinois?

Median household income in Illinois is $83,211 in this dataset.

What is the combined average sales tax rate in Illinois?

The combined average sales tax rate shown for Illinois is 8.82%. State and local rules vary; see the Tax Foundation citation on the hub.

Does Illinois have a state income tax?

State income tax in Illinois: Flat 4.95%.

What was regular gas in Illinois in this snapshot?

87-octane gas is listed at $4.214 per gallon (AAA, June 2026) in the explorer data.

How should a household read Illinois' cost-of-living index?

The index is 95.1 against a US baseline of 100. A salary that buys a basket at the baseline would need about 95.1% of that salary to buy the same basket in Illinois in this snapshot. It is not a tax bill, a rent quote, or financial advice.

Sources: Tax Foundation (sales tax), BEA / ACS (income & COL), AAA gas (June 20, 2026). Educational, not financial, tax, or relocation advice.