Rents are 7% below what Buffalo Grove's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,403 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Buffalo Grove is 2% below its high of $2,452 in February 2026, at $2,403 as of September 2026.
Rent in Buffalo Grove changed +0.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.
Rent has fallen 4 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($129,395) is $3,235 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,530); a 3-bedroom is $3,250.
Wheeling, 3 miles away, rents for 16% less ($2,009/mo), about $4,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Buffalo Grove. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Buffalo Grove, IL is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 68.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Buffalo Grove, IL has changed in 5 years
Rent in Buffalo Grove, IL has increased 25.1% since 2022, going from about $1,921 per month to roughly $2,403 today. On the earnings side, the typical household in Buffalo Grove, IL now reports about $129,395, up from $121,212 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 18.3 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Buffalo Grove, IL reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Buffalo Grove on your salary?
At $2,403/mo, how Buffalo Grove rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Buffalo Grove rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Buffalo Grove. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Buffalo Grove
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Buffalo Grove is $2,403/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,100/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,530/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,240/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,250/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($129,395/yr), Buffalo Grove ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Buffalo Grove?
Is rent going up or down in Buffalo Grove?
How does Buffalo Grove rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Buffalo Grove?
At $2,403/mo, rent takes ~22% of Buffalo Grove's median household income ($129,395/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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