Calumet City, IL vs Waukegan, IL

Calumet City is moderately more affordable than Waukegan, with a 5.1% lower cost of living index. Calumet City scores 81 compared to 86 for Waukegan, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waukegan can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Calumet City is $1,138/month compared to $1,163/month in Waukegan — a 2% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Calumet City is more affordable at $133,600 median vs $177,600.

Median household income in Calumet City is $53,991 compared to $70,578 in Waukegan (-23.5%). While Waukegan is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Calumet City spend roughly 25.3% of their income on rent, more than the 19.8% in Waukegan.