Gurnee, IL vs River Forest, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Gurnee is 17% cheaper than River Forest. With a cost index of 111 vs 134, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Gurnee to River Forest should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Gurnee is $1,594/month compared to $1,411/month in River Forest — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while River Forest has cheaper rent, Gurnee actually has lower median home values ($331,100 vs $676,900).

Median household income in Gurnee is $121,410 compared to $148,711 in River Forest (-18.4%). While River Forest is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Gurnee spend roughly 15.8% of their income on rent, more than the 11.4% in River Forest.

Climate-wise, River Forest is notably warmer with an average of 52.1°F compared to 48.3°F in Gurnee. Gurnee receives more rainfall at 35.3" per year compared to 34.4" in River Forest.