Berkeley, IL vs Chatham, IL

Chatham is moderately more affordable than Berkeley, with a 8.7% lower cost of living index. Berkeley scores 93 compared to 86 for Chatham, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Berkeley can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Berkeley is $1,292/month compared to $1,157/month in Chatham — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Chatham has cheaper rent, Berkeley actually has lower median home values ($222,400 vs $231,900).

Median household income in Berkeley is $83,224 compared to $106,030 in Chatham (-21.5%). Chatham offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Berkeley spend roughly 18.6% of their income on rent, more than the 13.1% in Chatham.