Belvidere, IL vs Decatur, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Decatur is 16.4% cheaper than Belvidere. With a cost index of 62 vs 73, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Decatur to Belvidere should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Belvidere is $943/month compared to $796/month in Decatur — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Decatur is more affordable at $97,300 median vs $153,100.

Median household income in Belvidere is $62,462 compared to $50,809 in Decatur (+22.9%). While Belvidere is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Belvidere spend roughly 18.1% of their income on rent, less than the 18.8% in Decatur.