Cook County, IL at a glance
Median household income
$83,498$6,958 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Cook County, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Cook County, IL? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,480 | $17,760 | $59,200 | 21.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,581 | $18,972 | $63,240 | 22.7% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,781 | $21,372 | $71,240 | 25.6% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,294 | $27,528 | $91,760 | 33% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,653 | $31,836 | $106,120 | 38.1% |
What a typical income covers in Cook County, IL
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $83,498 a year ($6,958 a month before tax).
What $83,498 leaves after Illinois taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Illinois tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Illinois
Living in Cook County, IL: common questions
What is the median household income in Cook County, IL?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Cook County, IL is $83,498 per year (approximately $6,958 per month).
What is the average rent in Cook County, IL?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,480 for a studio, $1,581 for one bedroom, $1,781 for two, $2,294 for three and $2,653 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Cook County, IL expensive to live in?
Prices there run 3.6% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 103.6, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Cook County, IL?
To keep a $1,781 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $71,240 a year, or $5,937 a month. That is 85% of what the typical household in Cook County, IL earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Cook County, IL?
On the local median income of $83,498 ($6,958 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,479 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,087 for everything else and $1,392 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,781 takes 51% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Cook County, IL?
Homes in Illinois paid 19.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $179. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.