Elmwood Park, IL vs Oak Brook, IL

The cost of living difference between Elmwood Park, IL and Oak Brook, IL is dramatic. Elmwood Park is 48% cheaper than Oak Brook, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Elmwood Park has a cost index of 102 while Oak Brook sits at 196, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Elmwood Park is $1,295/month compared to $2,921/month in Oak Brook — a 56% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Elmwood Park is more affordable at $325,000 median vs $867,900.

Median household income in Elmwood Park is $84,121 compared to $171,123 in Oak Brook (-50.8%). While Oak Brook is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Elmwood Park spend roughly 18.5% of their income on rent, less than the 20.5% in Oak Brook.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.3°F vs 52.1°F). Elmwood Park receives more rainfall at 37.9" per year compared to 34.4" in Oak Brook.