Crystal Lake, IL vs Evanston, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Crystal Lake is 18.4% cheaper than Evanston. With a cost index of 103 vs 126, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Crystal Lake to Evanston should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Crystal Lake is $1,431/month compared to $1,698/month in Evanston — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Crystal Lake is more affordable at $287,400 median vs $472,300.

Median household income in Crystal Lake is $105,428 compared to $95,766 in Evanston (+10.1%). Crystal Lake offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Crystal Lake spend roughly 16.3% of their income on rent, less than the 21.3% in Evanston.