Is Naperville expensive to live in?

Naperville is among the most expensive of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,594 per month ranks #12 of 112 and is 48% higher than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Naperville?

Average rent in Naperville, IL runs a studio around $1,713, a one-bedroom around $1,594, a two-bedroom around $1,889, a three-bedroom around $2,446 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Naperville?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,594 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year. The median household income here is $150,937.

How much does it cost to live in Naperville per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Naperville is about $1,830 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Naperville, IL

Population 149,424 · Illinois

~$1,830/mo est.1BR $1,594Home $509,900

Photo: Joshua Fernandez / Unsplash

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The cost of living in Naperville, IL is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,594 a month — 48% higher than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,713 and two-bedrooms $1,889.

Median household income here is $150,937, 117% higher than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,830 before food and transport. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,594

Studio

$1,713

1 Bedroom

$1,594

2 Bedroom

$1,889

3 Bedroom

$2,446

Buying a Home$509,900

Median Home Value

$509,900

Income$150,937

Median Household Income

$150,937

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesMidwest

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.66

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, Midwest (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities23.9¢/kWh

Electricity

23.9¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$15.39/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.94/gal

Regular Gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2))

$3.94/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (IL)6.25% sales

State Sales Tax

6.25%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 4.95%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime85.7 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

85.7

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

892.2

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Naperville Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 40.1 yrs

Median Age

40.1 yrs

Homeownership

74.3%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

71.7%

Avg Commute

31.4 min

Climate49.9°F

Avg Annual Temperature

49.9°F

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

Naperville cost of living — FAQ

Is Naperville expensive to live in?: Naperville is among the most expensive of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,594 per month ranks #12 of 112 and is 48% higher than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Naperville?: Average rent in Naperville, IL runs a studio around $1,713, a one-bedroom around $1,594, a two-bedroom around $1,889, a three-bedroom around $2,446 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Naperville?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,594 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year. The median household income here is $150,937.
How much does it cost to live in Naperville per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Naperville is about $1,830 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Naperville with nearby cities

Naperville vs Aurora Naperville vs Chicago Naperville vs Milwaukee Naperville vs Madison Naperville vs Fort Wayne Naperville vs Indianapolis

Nearby cities

Aurora, IL 9 mi Chicago, IL 28 mi Milwaukee, WI 90 mi Madison, WI 111 mi Fort Wayne, IN 163 mi Indianapolis, IN 172 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.