Latest Cost of Living Numbers
Summary
The latest Cost of Living Index numbers for the third quarter of 2025 are in - and Kankakee County continues to offer residents one of the best values in the region.
The latest Cost of Living Index numbers for the third quarter of 2025 are in – and Kankakee County continues to offer residents one of the best values in the region.
The Cost of Living Index measures regional price differences for consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenses. Kankakee County’s overall composite score came in at 88.4%, compared to a national benchmark of 100%. In other words, local residents’ dollars stretch farther here than in many other parts of the country.
For comparison:
- Chicago Metro: 117.9%
- Bloomington-Normal: 100.2%
- Peoria Metro: 96.1%
- Will County: 92.6%
The composite index is based on six key categories. Kankakee County’s third-quarter figures are:
- Housing: 67.2%
- Utilities: 95.9%
- Grocery Items: 101.1%
- Transportation: 96.9%
- Health Care: 98.3%
- Misc. Goods & Services: 94.9%
Nationally, electricity prices have been rising faster than inflation, and those increases vary widely across regions. The average monthly energy cost among 272 urban areas reached $224.80, ranging from $633.58 in Fairbanks, Alaska – the highest in the nation – to $117.83 in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Regional conditions continue to shape overall affordability. The after-tax cost for a standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in Manhattan, NY, to over 20% below the national average in Tupelo, MS.
The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). For more information, visit www.coli.org.