Clarendon Hills, IL vs Melrose Park, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Melrose Park is 26.6% cheaper than Clarendon Hills. With a cost index of 94 vs 119, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Melrose Park to Clarendon Hills should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Clarendon Hills is $1,124/month compared to $1,194/month in Melrose Park — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clarendon Hills has cheaper rent, Melrose Park actually has lower median home values ($265,000 vs $595,500).

Median household income in Clarendon Hills is $125,826 compared to $64,740 in Melrose Park (+94.4%). While Clarendon Hills is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Clarendon Hills spend roughly 10.7% of their income on rent, less than the 22.1% in Melrose Park.