The Council for Community and Economic Research has published Third Quarter data for 2026 Cost of Living Index. 260 urban areas participated, and these numbers measure regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services. Categories include housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods and services.
Our Composite Index this quarter is 88.5%, with regional comparisons including Bloomington-Normal at 97.1%, Chicago-Metro at 114.1%, and Joliet-Will County at 92.7%.
Numbers for the specific areas of measure for Kankakee County included:
Grocery Items: 96.4%
Housing 69.0%
Utilities: 93.6%
Transportation: 94.3%
Healthcare: 99.8%
Misc. Goods and Services: 97.7%
These numbers confirm what we already know here in Kankakee County: your dollar goes farther, and these lower numbers add to an affordable quality of life.
For more information on C2ER, click here.
