Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 57% 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.

Columbus, OH
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$1,713
+69% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,594
+51% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,889
+48% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$2,446
+79% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$509,900
+117% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$150,937
+131% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$54,720
+7% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
40.1 yr
+7.1 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
44.3%
74.3%
+30.0 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
71.7%
+33.5 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
21.8 min
31.4 min
+9.6 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
85.7
+82% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
3,093.9
892.2
+71% in Columbus, 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 Columbus, OH
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
36.9 in
+3.2 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.94/gal
+6% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
23.9
+22% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$15.39
+33% in Columbus, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$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

Columbus vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Naperville?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Naperville?
Columbus 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).