Elgin, IL vs Waukegan, IL

Waukegan is moderately more affordable than Elgin, with a 10.6% lower cost of living index. Elgin scores 95 compared to 86 for Waukegan, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Elgin can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Elgin is $1,260/month compared to $1,163/month in Waukegan — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waukegan is more affordable at $177,600 median vs $252,400.

Median household income in Elgin is $88,316 compared to $70,578 in Waukegan (+25.1%). While Elgin is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Elgin spend roughly 17.1% of their income on rent, less than the 19.8% in Waukegan.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.7°F vs 48.3°F). Waukegan receives more rainfall at 35.3" per year compared to 33.2" in Elgin.