Cicero, IL vs Crystal Lake, IL

Cicero is moderately more affordable than Crystal Lake, with a 13.2% lower cost of living index. Cicero scores 89 compared to 103 for Crystal Lake, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Crystal Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Cicero is $1,121/month compared to $1,431/month in Crystal Lake — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Cicero is more affordable at $236,000 median vs $287,400.

Median household income in Cicero is $68,548 compared to $105,428 in Crystal Lake (-35%). While Crystal Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cicero spend roughly 19.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16.3% in Crystal Lake.