Evanston, IL vs Wheeling, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Wheeling is 21.5% cheaper than Evanston. With a cost index of 104 vs 126, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Wheeling to Evanston should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Evanston is $1,698/month compared to $1,578/month in Wheeling — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wheeling is more affordable at $244,600 median vs $472,300.

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $83,251 in Wheeling (+15%). 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, less than the 22.7% in Wheeling.

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