Senior living in Illinois
If you're looking to retire, one place you could look to is the Land of Lincoln. One might imagine Chicago when one thinks of Illinois. However, outside of Chicago, Illinois is an excellent place if you're looking to retire to a world of lush farmland and balanced weather. There are many gorgeous state parks in Illinois and many quiet places for you to enjoy your retirement years. While it's infamous for having higher taxes, the state has an overall lower cost of living, which can counteract that tax bill you might be fearing.
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Cost of living in Illinois
The cost of living in Illinois is slightly less than the national average, about 5.5% less. Illinois is quite affordable outside of Chicago and can be a great place to retire. In almost all areas, Illinois has a lower cost of living. However, one area where Illinois is more expensive is transportation. Suppose you don't need to go anywhere. In that case, however, the state is quite affordable, especially in the housing department, where it's nearly 15 points below the national average and almost $100K cheaper than the rest of the country. So check out Illinois and see if it fits within your budget.
Cost-of-living indices
100 = US average. Higher means more expensive.
- Overall
- 94.5
- Grocery
- 97.4
- Housing
- 85.2
- Utilities
- 95.8
- Transportation
- 106.5
- Misc.
- 96.7
Housing & rent
Statewide medians and averages.
- Median home
- $194,500
- Average rent
- $1,010
- Studio
- $863
- 1 bedroom
- $908
- 2 bedroom
- $1,058
- 3 bedroom
- $1,240
Care levels in Illinois
Whether you're comparing options for a parent or planning ahead for yourself, here's where to start by care level.
- AL
Assisted Living
Assisted living provides personal care, meals, and daily support for seniors who need help with everyday tasks but not full medical supervision.
- MC
Memory Care
Memory care is a specialized type of senior living for people with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other cognitive decline.
- IL
Independent Living
Independent living is community housing for active seniors who want amenities, social life, and freedom from home upkeep without daily personal-care services.
- HC
Home Care
Home care brings personal-care services and companionship into the senior's own home rather than moving them into a community.
- SNF
Nursing Homes
A skilled nursing facility (SNF, often called a nursing home) provides 24-hour licensed medical care and rehabilitation for seniors with serious health conditions.
- SA
Senior Apartments
Senior apartments are age-restricted rental homes - typically for residents 55+ or 62+ - designed for older adults who live independently.
Browse by city
Popular cities in Illinois
- Chicago, IL158 communities
- Alton, IL74 communities
- Bethalto, IL70 communities
- Arlington Heights, IL54 communities
- Collinsville, IL46 communities
- Rockford, IL36 communities
- Peoria, IL32 communities
- Springfield, IL31 communities
- Abingdon, IL30 communities
- Bolingbrook, IL27 communities
- Decatur, IL25 communities
- Aurora, IL24 communities
Hand-picked from our directory
Top assisted living in Illinois
Waterford Estates Senior Living
Calumet City, IL
4.4 · 61 reviews
Brookdale Glen Ellyn
Arlington Heights, IL
4.4 · 46 reviews
Brookdale Lisle
Lisle, IL
4.3 · 40 reviews
Brookdale Des Plaines
Des Plaines, IL
4.5 · 37 reviews
Senior Star At Weber Place
Romeoville, IL
4.4 · 36 reviews
Brookdale Lake View
Chicago, IL
4.3 · 36 reviews
Caregivers who come to you
Top home care in Illinois
Home Helpers Of Hinsdale
Berkeley, IL
4.7 · 184 reviews
Synergy Homecare Of Bloomington
Bloomington, IL
4.7 · 169 reviews
Visiting Angels Of Rockford
Rockford, IL
4.8 · 127 reviews
Brightstar Care Central Dupage Wheaton
Wheaton, IL
4.6 · 125 reviews
Assisting Hands Home Care - Barrington And Elgin, Il
Elgin, IL
4.7 · 123 reviews
Brightstar Care Naperville / South Dupage
Naperville, IL
4.6 · 107 reviews
55+ housing without daily care
Best senior apartments in Illinois
Local pricing
Assisted living monthly cost by city in Illinois
Median monthly cost of assisted living, sourced from public data. Actual community pricing varies by apartment size, level of care, and amenities.
Common questions about senior living in Illinois
- What types of senior care are available in Illinois?
- Illinois has communities offering assisted living, memory care, independent living, home care, and skilled nursing. Larger metros have more depth of options across all care levels; smaller markets may have fewer choices in any single category.
- How much does assisted living cost in Illinois?
- Assisted living costs in Illinois vary widely by metro, apartment size, and the resident's level of care. The national median is roughly $5,000 per month; major metros tend to run higher and rural areas lower. Each community sets its own pricing - request a written cost breakdown when you tour.
- Does Illinois Medicaid pay for assisted living?
- Medicaid does not pay for room-and-board in assisted living, but Illinois's Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver may cover some assisted-living services for eligible residents. Coverage and eligibility vary - check directly with your state's Medicaid agency or an elder-law attorney.
- How do I evaluate a nursing home in Illinois?
- Start with the CMS 5-star rating on Medicare.gov for any Medicare-certified facility, then look at the underlying staffing data and the most recent state inspection report. Tour the facility, watch staff interact with residents, and ask about staffing levels during evenings and overnight.
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