Evanston, IL vs Urbana, IL

The cost of living difference between Evanston, IL and Urbana, IL is dramatic. Urbana is 66.2% cheaper than Evanston, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Evanston has a cost index of 126 while Urbana sits at 76, 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 $951/month in Urbana — a 79% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Urbana is more affordable at $186,300 median vs $472,300.

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $45,854 in Urbana (+108.8%). While Evanston is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Evanston spend roughly 21.3% of their income on rent, less than the 24.9% in Urbana.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 52.5°F). Urbana receives more rainfall at 37" per year compared to 32.3" in Evanston.