Median rent is 3% lower in New York ($1,821/mo vs $1,885/mo). Buying is cheaper in Naperville, where the median home runs $540,200 versus $777,600. Households earn more in Naperville ($155,105 vs $80,483 a year). Taken together, Naperville is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 102.5 against 112.6 — about 9% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Naperville, IL.
Cost of living verdict
Naperville is 9% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 102.5 in Naperville vs 112.6 in New York (US national average = 100)
City A
Naperville, IL
City B
New York, NY
How much would you need to earn in New York, NY to maintain your standard of living from Naperville, IL?
Equivalent salary in New York, NY
$82,434
You'd need $7,434 more (10% higher).
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
Naperville
Illinois
New York
New York
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
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,885/mo in Naperville and $1,821/mo in New York. Home buyers face a steeper market in New York: the median home is $777,600 versus $540,200 in Naperville — 31% more expensive.
Metric
Naperville
New York
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.
Naperville
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
New York
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Naperville has cleaner air on average: 27.0 AQI (Good) compared to 46.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Naperville if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 102.5 vs 112.6).
Pick Naperville if you prioritize higher median household income ($155,105/yr).
Pick Naperville if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 27.0).
Naperville is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 102.5 versus 112.6 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 9% lower in Naperville.
Median rent is $1,885/mo in Naperville, IL and $1,821/mo in New York, NY. New York, NY has the lower rent by about 3%.
Median household income is $155,105 in Naperville, IL and $80,483 in New York, NY. 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 46.0 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 Naperville, IL is equivalent to roughly $109,913 in New York, NY (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
