Evanston, IL vs Moline, IL

The cost of living difference between Evanston, IL and Moline, IL is dramatic. Moline is 80.8% cheaper than Evanston, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Evanston has a cost index of 126 while Moline sits at 70, 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 Evanston is $1,698/month compared to $887/month in Moline — a 91% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Moline is more affordable at $141,900 median vs $472,300.

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $63,959 in Moline (+49.7%). The higher salaries in Evanston partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Evanston spend roughly 21.3% of their income on rent, more than the 16.6% in Moline.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 51.2°F). Moline receives more rainfall at 38.3" per year compared to 32.3" in Evanston.