Chester, IL vs Homewood, IL

The cost of living difference between Chester, IL and Homewood, IL is dramatic. Chester is 35.7% cheaper than Homewood, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Chester has a cost index of 62 while Homewood sits at 96, 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 Chester is $642/month compared to $1,422/month in Homewood — a 55% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Chester is more affordable at $107,800 median vs $210,500.

Median household income in Chester is $74,673 compared to $96,522 in Homewood (-22.6%). The higher salaries in Homewood partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Chester spend roughly 10.3% of their income on rent, less than the 17.7% in Homewood.