Racine, WI vs Kankakee, IL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Kankakee, IL and Racine, WI are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Racine works out to about $75,300 in Kankakee, before taxes.
- Housing is 0.9% higher in Kankakee, goods 0.2% lower and other services 0.2% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,327 a month in Kankakee and $1,460 in Racine, $1,596 a year less in Kankakee (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $227,000 in Kankakee and $315,000 in Racine.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.1%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Racine and Kankakee
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Racine, WI
- Kankakee, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Racine, WI | Kankakee, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.0 | 96.4 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 92.0 | 92.9 |
| Utilities | 90.0 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.6 |
| Category | Racine | Kankakee | Kankakee vs Racine |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.0 | 96.4 | +0.5% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.6 | −0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 92.0 | 92.9 | +0.9% |
| Utilities | 90.0 | 89.4 | −0.7% |
| Other services | 99.4 | 99.6 | +0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,460 | $1,327 | −9.1% |
| Typical home value | $315,000 | $227,000 | −27.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Racine | $75,000 | $75,300 | +0.5% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Racine and Kankakee has narrowed since 2008: 3.2 points then, 0.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Racine, WI
- Kankakee, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Racine, WI | Kankakee, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.3 | 99.5 |
| 2009 | 96.4 | 98.3 |
| 2010 | 94.6 | 99.3 |
| 2011 | 93.6 | 100.0 |
| 2012 | 94.4 | 99.2 |
| 2013 | 95.2 | 98.5 |
| 2014 | 95.4 | 97.7 |
| 2015 | 96.8 | 96.5 |
| 2016 | 94.6 | 97.6 |
| 2017 | 98.5 | 98.3 |
| 2018 | 93.7 | 93.6 |
| 2019 | 94.2 | 94.4 |
| 2020 | 93.9 | 90.6 |
| 2021 | 92.2 | 92.0 |
| 2022 | 90.9 | 92.1 |
| 2023 | 95.2 | 92.4 |
| 2024 | 96.0 | 96.4 |
Goods
- Racine, WI
- Kankakee, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Racine, WI | Kankakee, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.8 | 104.7 |
| 2009 | 101.0 | 106.4 |
| 2010 | 95.3 | 104.9 |
| 2011 | 94.6 | 105.9 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 103.3 |
| 2013 | 95.6 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 95.3 | 101.7 |
| 2015 | 100.5 | 99.2 |
| 2016 | 99.5 | 99.0 |
| 2017 | 102.3 | 102.2 |
| 2018 | 97.8 | 97.6 |
| 2019 | 96.4 | 96.5 |
| 2020 | 94.2 | 94.1 |
| 2021 | 94.7 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 92.0 | 90.8 |
| 2023 | 93.8 | 93.1 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 93.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Racine, WI
- Kankakee, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Racine, WI | Kankakee, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 89.3 | 84.1 |
| 2009 | 88.1 | 75.6 |
| 2010 | 86.2 | 81.2 |
| 2011 | 85.3 | 79.9 |
| 2012 | 85.4 | 84.1 |
| 2013 | 89.9 | 85.2 |
| 2014 | 88.0 | 85.3 |
| 2015 | 92.0 | 81.5 |
| 2016 | 73.4 | 81.7 |
| 2017 | 86.1 | 76.7 |
| 2018 | 79.4 | 78.7 |
| 2019 | 77.9 | 80.8 |
| 2020 | 81.5 | 69.4 |
| 2021 | 70.0 | 71.5 |
| 2022 | 70.9 | 76.6 |
| 2023 | 92.2 | 74.1 |
| 2024 | 92.0 | 92.9 |
Utilities
- Racine, WI
- Kankakee, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Racine, WI | Kankakee, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.9 | 98.1 |
| 2009 | 100.1 | 92.2 |
| 2010 | 100.1 | 90.0 |
| 2011 | 98.3 | 91.1 |
| 2012 | 98.4 | 87.3 |
| 2013 | 104.2 | 80.3 |
| 2014 | 99.1 | 90.2 |
| 2015 | 107.1 | 92.9 |
| 2016 | 110.8 | 93.5 |
| 2017 | 106.1 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 100.0 | 92.8 |
| 2019 | 95.0 | 88.4 |
| 2020 | 96.6 | 89.2 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 92.0 |
| 2022 | 90.5 | 92.9 |
| 2023 | 89.6 | 85.8 |
| 2024 | 90.0 | 89.4 |
Other services
- Racine, WI
- Kankakee, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Racine, WI | Kankakee, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.8 | 102.0 |
| 2009 | 95.8 | 103.4 |
| 2010 | 96.4 | 103.1 |
| 2011 | 95.1 | 104.4 |
| 2012 | 95.7 | 103.4 |
| 2013 | 96.1 | 102.6 |
| 2014 | 97.6 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 95.5 | 100.4 |
| 2016 | 99.0 | 102.8 |
| 2017 | 99.7 | 104.0 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 96.5 |
| 2019 | 98.3 | 98.5 |
| 2020 | 97.7 | 97.8 |
| 2021 | 97.9 | 98.0 |
| 2022 | 97.6 | 98.2 |
| 2023 | 97.7 | 98.1 |
| 2024 | 99.4 | 99.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,327 in Kankakee vs $1,460 in Racine
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Racine, WI
- Kankakee, IL
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Racine, WI | Kankakee, IL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $949 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $943 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $937 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $965 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $978 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $994 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $975 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,009 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,033 | $928 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,050 | $961 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,079 | $962 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,061 | $945 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,121 | $1,000 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,147 | $1,034 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,186 | $1,046 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,185 | $1,069 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,220 | $1,064 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,232 | $1,096 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,248 | $1,108 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,275 | $1,141 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,271 | $1,137 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,285 | $1,181 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,323 | $1,171 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,309 | $1,214 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,342 | $1,218 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,372 | $1,237 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,364 | $1,255 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,372 | $1,255 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,393 | $1,261 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,420 | $1,281 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,460 | $1,327 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $227,000 in Kankakee vs $315,000 in Racine
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Racine, WI
- Kankakee, IL
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Racine, WI | Kankakee, IL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $146K | $127K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $147K | $129K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $149K | $129K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $152K | $129K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $153K | $130K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $155K | $131K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $156K | $130K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $159K | $130K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $161K | $133K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $165K | $134K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $168K | $133K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $171K | $136K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $175K | $138K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $179K | $140K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $184K | $140K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $187K | $141K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $190K | $146K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $193K | $148K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $194K | $148K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $197K | $150K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $200K | $152K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $203K | $153K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $205K | $156K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $214K | $163K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $222K | $169K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $233K | $172K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $238K | $173K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $240K | $175K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $246K | $183K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $256K | $189K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $257K | $187K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $255K | $187K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $260K | $190K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $267K | $192K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $270K | $197K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $272K | $200K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $276K | $202K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $282K | $206K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $285K | $207K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $289K | $211K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $294K | $214K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $297K | $212K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $298K | $214K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $301K | $220K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $307K | $226K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $311K | $226K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $315K | $227K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.