Darien, IL vs Oak Park, IL

Darien, IL and Oak Park, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.7% difference in their overall index. Darien scores 118 while Oak Park scores 117 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Darien is $1,671/month compared to $1,456/month in Oak Park — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Oak Park has cheaper rent, Darien actually has lower median home values ($386,400 vs $456,300).

Median household income in Darien is $109,354 compared to $108,026 in Oak Park (+1.2%). While Darien is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Darien spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, more than the 16.2% in Oak Park.