Cost of living in Elgin

Elgin, located in Illinois, offers a unique blend of suburban charm and urban convenience. Understanding the cost of living in Elgin is crucial for anyone considering moving to or residing in this city.

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of expenses related to dining, groceries, transportation, housing, and utilities, helping you make informed financial decisions.

Cost of Living Summary

Dining and Restaurants

  • Inexpensive Restaurant Meal - A meal at a casual restaurant will typically cost $15 on average, with a range between $10 and $20.
  • Mid-Range Restaurant (Three-Course Meal for Two) - For a more upscale dining experience, expect to pay around $60, with prices ranging from $50 to $125.
  • Fast Food (e.g., McDonald's) - A McMeal or equivalent combo meal averages $10, with a range between $9 and $14.
  • Beverages (e.g., Domestic Beer, Imported Beer, Cappuccino, Coke/Pepsi) - Domestic beer ranges from $4 to $8, imported beer $5 to $8, cappuccino $3 to $6, and Coke/Pepsi $2 to $3.

Grocery Prices

  • Milk - Milk is priced between $0.71 and $1.16 per liter, averaging $0.71.
  • Bread (Loaf of Fresh White Bread) - A loaf of fresh white bread costs between $1.97 and $7.72, with an average price of $4.
  • Eggs (Dozen) - A dozen eggs range from $1.7 to $6, averaging $3.33.
  • Fruits (e.g., Apples, Oranges) - Apples cost $2.2 to $8.8 per kg, while oranges range from $1.52 to $12.5 per kg.
  • Vegetables (e.g., Potatoes, Lettuce) - Potatoes are priced between $1.52 and $3.51 per kg, and lettuce costs $1.3 to $2.5 per head.

Transportation

  • Fuel (Gasoline) - Gasoline is priced between $0.74 and $1.06 per liter.
  • Taxi Fares - Taxi fares start at $4.5, with a cost of $2.17 to $3.11 per km and $28 to $42 per hour of waiting.

Housing Costs

  • 3-Bedroom Apartment Rent (City Centre) - Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $2200.
  • 3-Bedroom Apartment Rent (Outside Centre) - Outside the centre, rent averages $1800.

Utilities

  • Basic Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Water, etc.) - Basic utilities for an 85m2 apartment cost between $100 and $265, averaging $100.
  • Internet - Internet services range from $50 to $95, with an average cost of $50.
Worldwide
United States

Cost of Living Rankings

The cost of living indices for the United States are compared to New York City (NYC), which serves as the baseline with an index of 100. These provide insights into the relative cost of living in different cities in United States, covering factors like consumer goods, rent, and purchasing power.

Highest to LowestUpdated: Dec, 2024
New York, NY
1. New York
New York
San Francisco, CA
2. San Francisco
California
Honolulu, HI
3. Honolulu
Hawaii
San Jose, CA
4. San Jose
California
Boston, MA
5. Boston
Massachusetts
Seattle, WA
6. Seattle
Washington
Washington, DC
7. Washington
United States
San Diego, CA
8. San Diego
California
Los Angeles, CA
9. Los Angeles
California
Sacramento, CA
10. Sacramento
California
Full Cost of Living Rankings

Cost of Living Data

The following pricing data has been gathered from 3 user contributions, as of the most recent update in November, 2024.
Restaurants
Avg / Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
$15.00
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course
$60.00
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)
$10.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.00
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00
Cappuccino (regular)
$4.00
Markets
Avg / Range
Milk (regular), (1 liter)
$0.71
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)
$4.00
Eggs (regular) (12)
$3.33
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.02
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)
$12.50
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)
$10.00
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.03
Apples (1kg)
$2.20
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65
Potato (1kg)
$2.65
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98
Rice (white), (1kg)
$5.58
Tomato (1kg)
$2.76
Banana (1kg)
$1.10
Onion (1kg)
$3.01
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)
$11.02
Transportation
Avg / Range
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)
$27,000.00
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.50
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)
$2.17
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)
$24,999.30
Rent Per Month
Avg / Range
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre
$2,200.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre
$1,800.00
Utilities (Monthly)
Avg / Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment
$100.00
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)
$50.00
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data
$52.92
Sports And Leisure
Avg / Range
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat
$14.75
Clothing And Shoes
Avg / Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)
$42.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)
$99.00
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes
$132.50
Salaries And Financing
Avg / Range
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate
6.5%
Childcare
Avg / Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child
$1,717.56
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child
$24,601.00
OverviewJob Market
Elgin Cost of Living

"Key Takeaways"

Elgin offers a moderate cost of living with affordable dining and grocery options.

Housing costs are reasonable, especially for larger apartments outside the city centre.

Transportation costs are manageable, with competitive fuel prices and taxi fares.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Elgin, IL, presents a balanced cost of living that caters to a variety of lifestyles.

Whether you're dining out, shopping for groceries, or seeking housing, Elgin provides options that suit different budgets.

This makes it an attractive location for families, professionals, and retirees alike.

Elgin

Nearby Cities

Schaumburg, IL10 miles
Naperville, IL19 miles
Aurora, IL19 miles
Des Plaines, IL20 miles
All cities in Illinois