Belvidere, IL vs Lake Villa, IL

The cost of living difference between Belvidere, IL and Lake Villa, IL is dramatic. Belvidere is 31.4% cheaper than Lake Villa, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Belvidere has a cost index of 73 while Lake Villa sits at 106, 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 Belvidere is $943/month compared to $1,430/month in Lake Villa — a 34% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Belvidere is more affordable at $153,100 median vs $325,900.

Median household income in Belvidere is $62,462 compared to $111,110 in Lake Villa (-43.8%). While Lake Villa 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, more than the 15.4% in Lake Villa.