Crest Hill, IL vs Normal, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Normal is 23% cheaper than Crest Hill. With a cost index of 78 vs 96, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Normal to Crest Hill should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Crest Hill is $1,386/month compared to $974/month in Normal — a 42% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Normal is more affordable at $199,900 median vs $222,600.

Median household income in Crest Hill is $71,408 compared to $66,350 in Normal (+7.6%). Crest Hill does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Crest Hill spend roughly 23.3% of their income on rent, more than the 17.6% in Normal.