As someone who loves good food but hates overspending, I’ve found that grocery costs in Addison are pretty reasonable if you shop smart. The local Aldi and ethnic markets have great prices on produce, while Costco is a lifesaver for bulk items. Dining out can add up quickly though – even a casual dinner for two can easily top $50 after tax and tip. My advice is to take advantage of happy hours and daily specials to keep food costs under control.

Housing is definitely the biggest expense in Addison, as it is for much of DuPage County. We just renewed the lease on our 2-bedroom apartment, and the rent went up almost $200 to $1,800 per month. That’s outside the city center though – I imagine apartments downtown are even pricier. If you’re looking to buy, expect to pay at least $300k for a decent starter home, likely more in the best neighborhoods. Property taxes are no joke either. That said, the area does offer a relatively low overall cost of living compared to downtown Chicago.

One budget area where Addison really shines is transportation. The Metra rail and Pace bus systems make it easy to get around the suburbs or into the city without dealing with crazy gas prices and parking costs. I just have a regular monthly Metra pass for my work commute. Of course, you’ll need a car too for running errands and such, but between that and occasional ride shares, my transport expenses are very manageable compared to peers who drive downtown daily.

With an active family of four, my biggest non-housing costs are probably groceries and activities/entertainment. Groceries for healthy foods can really add up, though places like Trader Joe’s help. Using parks, forest preserves, and community rec centers has been a lifesaver for keeping the kids busy without breaking the bank. Some of the suburban amenities like a nice pool or gym membership will set you back $50-100+ per month though. Addison seems relatively affordable for this type of middle-class suburban lifestyle, but it’s still a stretch at times.

As someone working in the healthcare field, I can say that Addison has a good mix of affordable medical services as well as higher-end options. If you have decent insurance, co-pays and costs for routine care aren’t too crazy. My family does most of our general practice visits and such locally, which saves a ton compared to Academic medical centers in Chicago. For specialized needs though, we’ll go into the city and absorb those higher costs when needed. Overall, I think healthcare is pretty reasonable here for the suburbs.

Now that my kids are out of the house, I really monitor living costs closely on a retiree’s budget. Some of the biggest savings I’ve found in Addison come from utilities and other household bills. My gas, electric, internet, and mobile phone bills are all pretty average for this area – nothing too outrageous. But competing providers help keep prices reasonable. I’d recommend bundling services when possible too. Overall, these recurring monthly expenses are manageable, especially without the student loan and childcare costs I used to have.

One area where Addison falls a bit short is nightlife and entertainment options. There are a few decent bars and restaurants, but nowhere near the variety you’d find in Chicago or even bigger suburbs. For a night out, my friends and I usually end up driving into the city and shelling out for parking, pricey drinks, cover charges, you name it. It’s a tradeoff I’m willing to make though, since Addison is much calmer and lower-cost for everyday life when I’m being responsible! I just have to budget accordingly for those rarer splurges.

As a huge Chicago sports fan, one of my biggest expenses living in Addison is going to see my favorite teams play – Bears, Bulls, Sox, Hawks, you name it. Tickets alone can be a couple hundred bucks per game, not to mention parking, concessions, merchandise, etc. It’s not a weekly thing for me, but even catching a few big games per year really adds up. Luckily, Addison has some solid sports bars where I can watch with some friends without going broke. But being close to catch that live game experience is worth the premium cost in my book.

One major cost that can’t be overlooked in Addison is education if you have school-aged kids. The public schools are decent, but we opted to send our three children to a local Catholic school. That runs us over $15,000 per year in tuition alone! On top of that, we have expenses for after-school activities, supplies, tutors, and hopefully college funds set aside. Daycare costs for my youngest were also crazy before kindergarten. Addison is a great place to raise a family, but the education costs can really strain a middle-class budget.

As a young professional looking to buy my first home in a trendy Chicago suburb, I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Addison’s costs. On one hand, it’s far more affordable than renting or buying in the trendiest city neighborhoods, which is a huge plus for building some equity. But convenience and culture do come with costs – even Addison’s “hip” downtown area has rental rates nearing Chicago-levels. If I want to live that walkable urban lifestyle, I’m likely looking at $300k+ to buy a decent condo or spending $2,000+ a month to rent something trendy but small. That’s a lot for my modest paycheck right out of college! I’ll probably have to compromise by living a bit further out, at least for my first place. The overall lower costs make Addison worth it for now as I build my career and savings.