Melrose Park, IL vs Oak Lawn, IL

Melrose Park, IL and Oak Lawn, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.8% difference in their overall index. Melrose Park scores 94 while Oak Lawn scores 98 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Melrose Park is $1,194/month compared to $1,310/month in Oak Lawn — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Melrose Park is more affordable at $265,000 median vs $267,900.

Median household income in Melrose Park is $64,740 compared to $82,493 in Oak Lawn (-21.5%). While Oak Lawn is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Melrose Park spend roughly 22.1% of their income on rent, more than the 19.1% in Oak Lawn.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.3°F vs 52.1°F). Melrose Park receives more rainfall at 37.9" per year compared to 34.4" in Oak Lawn.