Melrose Park, IL vs Olney, IL

The cost of living difference between Melrose Park, IL and Olney, IL is dramatic. Olney is 44.6% 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 Olney sits at 65, 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 $769/month in Olney — a 55% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Olney is more affordable at $96,900 median vs $265,000.

Median household income in Melrose Park is $64,740 compared to $57,997 in Olney (+11.6%). 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 15.9% in Olney.

Climate-wise, Olney is notably warmer with an average of 55.7°F compared to 51.3°F in Melrose Park. Olney receives more rainfall at 41.7" per year compared to 37.9" in Melrose Park.