Elgin vs Hillsboro
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Elgin
Hillsboro
The Verdict
Elgin is 25.8% less expensive than Hillsboro overall. A household earning $75,000 in Elgin would need approximately $101,053 in Hillsboro to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Elgin has the same purchasing power as $101,053 in Hillsboro.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hillsboro equals $55,664 in Elgin.
Living in Elgin vs Hillsboro
Housing Costs
Elgin's housing index of 89 is lower Hillsboro's 175, translating to median home prices of $279,000 vs $533,000. The $254,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,512 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Elgin compared to $1,725/mo in Hillsboro, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Elgin and 108 in Hillsboro. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Elgin vs $513/month in Hillsboro. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 89 in Elgin and 96 in Hillsboro. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Elgin vs $384 in Hillsboro. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Elgin and 103 in Hillsboro. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $90,300 in Elgin and $106,700 in Hillsboro. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $95,053 and $83,359 respectively. Elgin residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,107/month to housing in Elgin vs $2,490/month in Hillsboro. In Elgin, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 86 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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