Melrose Park, IL vs Monmouth, IL

The cost of living difference between Melrose Park, IL and Monmouth, IL is dramatic. Monmouth is 54.8% cheaper than Melrose Park, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Melrose Park has a cost index of 94 while Monmouth sits at 61, 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 Melrose Park is $1,194/month compared to $652/month in Monmouth — a 83% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Monmouth is more affordable at $88,100 median vs $265,000.

Median household income in Melrose Park is $64,740 compared to $59,690 in Monmouth (+8.5%). Melrose Park does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Melrose Park spend roughly 22.1% of their income on rent, more than the 13.1% in Monmouth.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.3°F vs 51.9°F). Monmouth receives more rainfall at 37.9" per year compared to 37.9" in Melrose Park.