A-
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
22%
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 Markham Illinois National
Cost of living9696100
Goods & Services10797100
Groceries10498100
Health care10895100
Housing7895100
Transportation107103100
Utilities8989100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Markham, IL

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Markham? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Markham stands at 96, making it 4% lower 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 Markham, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, 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 Markham will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Markham Affordable?

Is Markham affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Markham, the median home price is 50.1% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 43.5% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Markham boasting a median household income of $42,050, 24% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Markham?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Markham, healthcare costs are 7.7% 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.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Markham, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6.25%, and income tax rates start at 4.95%.

Where is the Data From?

The Markham 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. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Markham is equal to the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in Markham is 4% lower than the national average
  • Markham housing is 22% lower 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 Markham

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Compare Markham, IL Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      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$54,210$4,518$1,265$1,626
      Renters$30,725$2,560$717$922
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Markham, 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 Markham homeowners, is $54,210. This would allow for a maximum of $1,265 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $30,725 which would result in a maximum of $717 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 Markham 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 Markham 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 Markham 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 Markham National avg. Difference
      Home Price $92,200.00$184,700.0050.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,578.06$2,346.699.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,362.00$949.0043.5%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Markham 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%
      Ford Heights, IL2,7058614.2%
      East Chicago, IN28,0448712.7%
      Phoenix, IL1,4028812.0%
      Dixmoor, IL3,5709010.2%
      Markham, IL12,401963.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Summerland, BC12,400n/a 
      Irmo, SC12,397982.1%
      Brock, ON12,406n/a 
      Patchogue, NY12,38913333.4%
      Sidney, BC12,386n/a 
      Markham, IL12,401963.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.