Highland Park, IL vs Waukegan, IL

The cost of living difference between Highland Park, IL and Waukegan, IL is dramatic. Waukegan is 66.1% cheaper than Highland Park, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Highland Park has a cost index of 142 while Waukegan sits at 86, 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 Highland Park is $1,903/month compared to $1,163/month in Waukegan — a 64% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waukegan is more affordable at $177,600 median vs $594,400.

Median household income in Highland Park is $161,875 compared to $70,578 in Waukegan (+129.4%). While Highland Park is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Highland Park spend roughly 14.1% of their income on rent, less than the 19.8% in Waukegan.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 48.3°F). Waukegan receives more rainfall at 35.3" per year compared to 32.3" in Highland Park.