2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Park Forest, IL vs Waukegan, IL

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Waukegan or is it cheaper to live in Park Forest?
- Waukegan is 8.2% less expensive than Park Forest.

Which city has more affordable housing, Waukegan or Park Forest?
- Waukegan housing costs are 50.3% more expensive than Park Forest housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Park Forest or is Health Care more affordable in Waukegan.
- Health related expenses are 9.4% more in Waukegan.
 Park Forest, ILWaukegan, ILUnited States
 Overall  Unlock97.0100
 Food & Groceries92.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock96.3100
 Housing38.6  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$181,800$338,100
 Utilities98  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock86.9100
 Miscellaneous140.1  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Park Forest    4 Reviews

I'm happy to share that it IS coming back. I'm very thankful we found this community. Our family (husband, wife, 1 young child) recently bought our a little house here  More

   |    Reply

Park Forest is beautiful, but it's going down. You can see tons of green, an excellent library, but also plenty of vacant buildings. In its hay day, it must have been  More

   |    Reply

Over 12 years ago

No disrespect to the remaining officials and friends from my upbringing; but, leave town. I read how Park forest continues to fight off urban decay. It's simply a  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Park Forest

Reviews for Waukegan    3 Reviews

Great people, beautifully diverse. All live and work together to provide the best for all residents. Lake County College is completing a 40 million dollar building  More

   |    Reply

Over 12 years ago

We're looking for a moderate climate. Waukegan is on Lake Michigan and could have a dynamic vibrant downtown but it doesn't. Great master plan if somehow Waukegan can  More

   |    Reply

Over 17 years ago

I have been living in north east waukegan for 12 years and I am excited by the recent surge of growth in the downtown area. Thanks to the Genesee theater, there are  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Waukegan


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.