Cicero, IL vs DeKalb, IL

DeKalb is moderately more affordable than Cicero, with a 6.5% lower cost of living index. Cicero scores 89 compared to 84 for DeKalb, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Cicero 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 $1,030/month in DeKalb — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: DeKalb is more affordable at $202,900 median vs $236,000.

Median household income in Cicero is $68,548 compared to $46,564 in DeKalb (+47.2%). While Cicero 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, less than the 26.5% in DeKalb.