Barrington, IL vs St. Joseph, IL

The cost of living difference between Barrington, IL and St. Joseph, IL is dramatic. St. Joseph is 71.1% cheaper than Barrington, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Barrington has a cost index of 141 while St. Joseph sits at 82, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Barrington is $1,886/month compared to $969/month in St. Joseph — a 95% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Joseph is more affordable at $257,400 median vs $580,900.

Median household income in Barrington is $150,714 compared to $114,594 in St. Joseph (+31.5%). Barrington does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Barrington spend roughly 15% of their income on rent, more than the 10.1% in St. Joseph.