Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,800 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 53% higher in Naperville, IL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$815
$1,713
+110% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$900
$1,594
+77% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,889
+75% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$2,446
+96% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$509,900
+94% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$150,937
+113% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$54,720
+6% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
40.1 yr
+3.7 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
58.1%
74.3%
+16.2 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
71.7%
+25.5 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
31.4 min
+12.1 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
85.7
+82% in Huntsville, AL
Property Crime
2,395.7
892.2
+63% in Huntsville, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.1°F
49.9°F
+12.2°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
36.9 in
+17.4 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Naperville, IL

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
19.9
+21% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$19.71
+18% in Huntsville, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Naperville, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Huntsville, AL
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Naperville, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Naperville, IL
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Naperville, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / IL)
4%
6.25%
+2.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
4.95%
+0.0 pp in AL

Huntsville vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Naperville?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Naperville?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).