Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Cook County, IL would need to be about $41,175 in Kankakee County, IL, or $8,825 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Cook County, IL vs Kankakee County, IL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Kankakee County, IL is cheaper than Cook County, IL.
Moving to Kankakee County, IL is estimated to save $9,779 per year.
Cheaper County
Kankakee County, ILSave about $9,779 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Cook County, IL is about $41,175 in Kankakee County, IL.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $2,761 per year. Housing saves $6,882 per year.
Housing: $6,882 lower in Kankakee County, IL
Taxes: $2,510 lower in Kankakee County, IL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $316 lower in Kankakee County, IL
Food: $531 lower in Kankakee County, IL
Transport: $2,761 higher in Kankakee County, IL
Cook County, IL→Kankakee County, IL
Equivalent salary in Kankakee County, IL
$41,175
-17.65% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Cook County, IL: $102,297
Median Income in Kankakee County, IL: $86,403
Living Index in Cook County, IL 54.16%
Living Index in Kankakee County, IL 52.80%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Cook County, IL to Kankakee County, IL.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Cook County, IL to Kankakee County, IL is estimated to save $9,779 per year. A $50,000 salary in Cook County, IL would have similar purchasing power to about $41,175 in Kankakee County, IL. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -17.65% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $6,882 per year lower (-40.06%); Taxes is $2,510 per year lower (-21.4%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Cook County, IL and Kankakee County, IL, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 54.2% of median family income in Cook County, IL and 52.8% in Kankakee County, IL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $6,882 per year lower in Kankakee County, IL than in Cook County, IL. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Kankakee County, IL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $531 per year lower in Kankakee County, IL than in Cook County, IL. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Kankakee County, IL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $2,761 per year higher in Kankakee County, IL than in Cook County, IL. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Kankakee County, IL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $316 per year lower in Kankakee County, IL than in Cook County, IL. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Kankakee County, IL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,302 per year lower in Kankakee County, IL than in Cook County, IL. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Kankakee County, IL help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Cook County, IL and Kankakee County, IL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Kankakee County, IL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $2,510 per year lower in Kankakee County, IL than in Cook County, IL. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Kankakee County, IL matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Kankakee County, IL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Kankakee County, IL
Annual Increase:
$2,761 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Kankakee County, IL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Kankakee County, IL
Annual Savings:
$6,882 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Kankakee County, IL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -40% lower | |
| Food | -11% lower | |
| Transport | 27% higher | |
| Healthcare | -6% lower | |
| Other Costs | -34% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -21% lower |
In Kankakee County, IL, modeled annual costs are $45,620 compared with $55,399 in Cook County, IL.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Kankakee County, IL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Kankakee County, IL and Cook County, IL are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
