Median rent is 24% lower in Chicago ($1,440/mo vs $1,885/mo). Buying is cheaper in Chicago, where the median home runs $334,100 versus $540,200. Households earn more in Naperville ($155,105 vs $77,902 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (102.5).
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
Naperville, IL
How much would you need to earn in Naperville, IL to maintain your standard of living from Chicago, IL?
Equivalent salary in Naperville, IL
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Chicago
Illinois
Naperville
Illinois
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Chicago — median rent of $1,440/mo versus $1,885/mo in Naperville, a 24% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Naperville: the median home is $540,200 versus $334,100 in Chicago — 38% more expensive.
Metric
Chicago
Naperville
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Chicago
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Naperville
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Naperville has cleaner air on average: 27.0 AQI (Good) compared to 31.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Naperville if you prioritize higher median household income ($155,105/yr).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,440/mo median).
Chicago is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 102.5 versus 102.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Chicago.
Median rent is $1,440/mo in Chicago, IL and $1,885/mo in Naperville, IL. Chicago, IL has the lower rent by about 24%.
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago, IL and $155,105 in Naperville, IL. Naperville, IL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Naperville, IL has better air quality on average: 27.0 AQI versus 31.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Chicago, IL is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in Naperville, IL (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
