Is it cheaper to live in Detroit or Naperville?

Detroit, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Detroit or Naperville?

Detroit is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Detroit vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Detroit

Michigan

$970/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 $970 in Detroit, MI versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Detroit, MI is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,575 in Detroit, MI and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 74% higher in Naperville, IL. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Detroit, MI

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$801

$1,713

+114% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$752

$1,594

+112% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,001

$1,889

+89% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$2,446

+105% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$76,800

$509,900

+564% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$39,575

$150,937

+281% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,080

$54,720

+5% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

40.1 yr

+5.0 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

49.7%

74.3%

+24.6 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.6%

71.7%

+54.1 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

25.4 min

31.4 min

+6.0 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,783.4

85.7

+95% in Detroit, MI

Property Crime

4,391.6

892.2

+80% in Detroit, MI

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.3°F

49.9°F

+0.4°F in Detroit, MI

Annual Precipitation

31.3 in

36.9 in

+5.6 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

22.0

23.9

+8% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$14.07

$15.39

+9% in Naperville, IL

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 (MI / IL)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.25%

4.95%

+0.7 pp in IL

Detroit vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Detroit or Naperville?: Detroit, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Detroit than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Detroit versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Detroit or Naperville?: Detroit is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% 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).