How much does it cost to rent in Buffalo Grove, IL?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Buffalo Grove, IL is $2,418. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Buffalo Grove cheaper than other Illinois cities?

Buffalo Grove is one of the pricier cities in Illinois, ranking #26 out of 142 cities tracked at $2,418/mo.

When was Buffalo Grove rent data last updated?

Buffalo Grove rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · IL

Buffalo Grove

Name: Average Rent Prices in Buffalo Grove, IL
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 42,891·26th most expensive in Illinois·Buffalo Grove rents are up 16.2% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,418/mo

Year-over-Year

+16.2%

Month-over-Month

+1.3%

vs US Median

+$453

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Buffalo Grove · $2,418

More expensive than 77% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

42/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% above what Buffalo Grove's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,418/mo

Expected by trend

$2,321/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Buffalo Grove's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,100

1 BR

$2,240

2 BR

$2,530

3 BR

$3,250

4 BR+

$3,820

Research median

$2,530/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$29,016/yr

At $2,418/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 16.2% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+16.2% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

42,891

Median income

$129,395

Median age

Renters

20.2%

Age distribution

24.5%

15.4%

32%

12.2%

15.8%

Under 1824.5%

18–3415.4%

35–5432%

55–6412.2%

65+15.8%

Gender

48%

52%

Male48%

Female52%

Race & ethnicity

59.2%

29.8%

White59.2%

Black3.4%

Hispanic5.8%

Asian29.8%

Other1.8%

Education (25+)

18.6%

68.6%

No HS diploma3.2%

HS diploma9.6%

Some college18.6%

Bachelor's+68.6%

Housing tenure

79.8%

20.2%

Owner79.8%

Renter20.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How Buffalo Grove, IL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,807 → $2,418

up 33.8%

Income

$121,212 → $129,395

up 6.8%

Population

43,062 → 42,891

down 0.4%

Renter share

19.4% → 20.2%

+0.8 pts

Bachelor's+

67.3% → 68.6%

+1.3 pts

Median age

41.2 → 42

+0.8 yrs

Rent in Buffalo Grove, IL has increased 33.8% since 2022, going from about $1,807 per month to roughly $2,418 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 27.0 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.

Community

Discussions about Buffalo Grove

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View Buffalo Grove rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Buffalo Grove on your salary?

At $2,418/mo, how Buffalo Grove rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 30.1% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 42.4% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 36.8% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 20.6% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 16.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 45.3% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 50.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 40.7% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Buffalo Grove rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Buffalo Grove. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Buffalo Grove

About renting in Buffalo Grove, IL

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Buffalo Grove is $2,418/mo as of July 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 16.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Buffalo Grove an affordable city for renters?

Buffalo Grove is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,418/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the local median household income ($129,395/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Buffalo Grove falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Buffalo Grove?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $97,000/year (~$47/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,418/mo in Buffalo Grove. The local median household income is $129,395/yr, meaning the typical Buffalo Grove household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Buffalo Grove?

Rent in Buffalo Grove has increased 16.2% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Buffalo Grove rent compare to other cities in Illinois?

Buffalo Grove is one of the pricier cities in Illinois for rent, ranking #26 out of 142 tracked cities at $2,418/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Buffalo Grove?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Buffalo Grove ($2,418/mo): Arlington Heights ($1,949/mo), Palatine ($1,990/mo), Wheeling ($2,103/mo).

What percentage of Buffalo Grove residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 20.2% of Buffalo Grove households are renters, while 79.8% are owner-occupied. Buffalo Grove leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Buffalo Grove rent compare to the national average?

Buffalo Grove's median rent of $2,418/mo is $453 (23%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Illinois, it ranks #26 out of 142 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

22%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,418/mo, rent takes ~22% of Buffalo Grove's median household income ($129,395/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Buffalo Grove 22%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.95%

Run the Buffalo Grove affordability calculator →

Nearby cities