Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Naperville?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Naperville?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 74% higher in Naperville, IL. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$678

$1,713

+153% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$732

$1,594

+118% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$903

$1,889

+109% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$2,446

+126% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$509,900

+442% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$150,937

+285% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$54,720

+9% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

40.1 yr

+3.8 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

41.2%

74.3%

+33.1 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

71.7%

+50.4 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

22.9 min

31.4 min

+8.5 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

85.7

+95% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

892.2

+80% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

49.9°F

+2.8°F in Cleveland, OH

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

36.9 in

+0.6 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.94/gal

+6% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

23.9

+22% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$15.39

+33% in Cleveland, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / IL)

5.75%

6.25%

+0.5 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

4.95%

+2.2 pp in IL

Cleveland vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Naperville?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Naperville?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).