Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 45% higher in Naperville, IL. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$998
$1,713
+72% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,594
+22% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,889
+26% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$2,446
+30% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$509,900
+21% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$150,937
+81% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$54,720
+4% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
40.1 yr
+4.5 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
61.3%
74.3%
+13.0 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
71.7%
+29.8 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
22.8 min
31.4 min
+8.6 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
85.7
+88% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,488.7
892.2
+74% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
49.9°F
+0.9°F in Naperville, IL
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
36.9 in
+20.4 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$3.94/gal
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

Adult base one-way fare — Mountain Metro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
23.9
+48% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.92
$15.39
+29% in Naperville, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Naperville, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Naperville, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / IL)
2.9%
6.25%
+3.4 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
4.95%
+0.5 pp in IL

Colorado Springs vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Naperville?
Colorado Springs, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Naperville?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).