Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Naperville?

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Naperville?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Naperville?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 51% higher in Naperville, IL. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,713

+57% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,594

+35% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,889

+34% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$2,446

+34% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$509,900

+84% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$150,937

+105% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$54,720

+6% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

40.1 yr

+6.5 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

54.8%

74.3%

+19.5 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

71.7%

+38.6 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

26.7 min

31.4 min

+4.7 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

85.7

+83% in Arlington, TX

Property Crime

2,434.5

892.2

+63% in Arlington, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

49.9°F

+15.5°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

36.9 in

+2.7 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Naperville, IL

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

23.9

+45% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$15.39

+50% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Naperville, IL

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Arlington, TX

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Naperville, IL

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Naperville, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / IL)

6.25%

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.95%

+5.0 pp in IL

Arlington vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Naperville?: Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Naperville?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).