Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Naperville?

Naperville, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,830 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Boston or Naperville?

Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).

Boston vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/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 $2,290 in Boston, MA versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Naperville, IL is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 37% higher in Naperville, IL. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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.

Boston, MA

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$1,890

$1,713

+9% in Boston, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,978

$1,594

+19% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,155

$1,889

+12% in Boston, MA

3 Bedroom

$2,234

$2,446

+9% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$710,400

$509,900

+28% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$94,755

$150,937

+59% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$54,720

+18% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.2 yr

40.1 yr

+6.9 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

35.4%

74.3%

+38.9 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.1%

71.7%

+17.6 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

30.2 min

31.4 min

+1.2 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

630.2

85.7

+86% in Boston, MA

Property Crime

2,030.8

892.2

+56% in Boston, MA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.5°F

49.9°F

+1.6°F in Boston, MA

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

36.9 in

+6.9 in in Boston, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.95/gal

$3.94/gal

+0% in Boston, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.8

23.9

+17% in Boston, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.39

$15.39

+51% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Boston, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Boston, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Boston, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Boston, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / IL)

6.25%

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

4.95%

+4.0 pp in MA

Boston vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Naperville?: Naperville, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,830 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Naperville?: Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).