Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Reno?

Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Reno?

Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Naperville vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,830 in Naperville, IL versus $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Reno, NV is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $150,937 in Naperville, IL and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 48% higher in Naperville, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Naperville, IL

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,713

$964

+44% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,594

$1,206

+24% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,889

$1,518

+20% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$2,446

$1,885

+23% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$509,900

$498,600

+2% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$150,937

$78,448

+48% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,720

$49,660

+9% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

37.3 yr

+2.8 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

74.3%

49.4%

+24.9 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

71.7%

35.7%

+36.0 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

31.4 min

20.6 min

+10.8 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

85.7

528.9

+517% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

892.2

2,489.3

+179% in Reno, NV

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

49.9°F

53.8°F

+3.9°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

36.9 in

7.4 in

+29.5 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.09/gal

+29% in Reno, NV

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.9

13.6

+43% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.39

$12.09

+21% in Naperville, IL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Naperville, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / NV)

6.25%

6.85%

+0.6 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

4.95%

None

+5.0 pp in IL

Naperville vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or Reno?: Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Naperville than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Naperville or Reno?: Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).