Mattoon, IL vs Romeoville, IL

The cost of living difference between Mattoon, IL and Romeoville, IL is dramatic. Mattoon is 43% cheaper than Romeoville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Mattoon has a cost index of 65 while Romeoville sits at 113, 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 Mattoon is $764/month compared to $1,892/month in Romeoville — a 60% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Mattoon is more affordable at $96,000 median vs $245,200.

Median household income in Mattoon is $47,308 compared to $100,022 in Romeoville (-52.7%). While Romeoville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Mattoon spend roughly 19.4% of their income on rent, less than the 22.7% in Romeoville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (53.4°F vs 52.1°F). Mattoon receives more rainfall at 36" per year compared to 34.4" in Romeoville.