Evanston, IL vs Rock Island, IL

The cost of living difference between Evanston, IL and Rock Island, IL is dramatic. Rock Island is 91.8% cheaper than Evanston, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Evanston has a cost index of 126 while Rock Island sits at 66, 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 $819/month in Rock Island — a 107% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rock Island is more affordable at $118,400 median vs $472,300.

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $57,292 in Rock Island (+67.2%). 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 17.2% in Rock Island.

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