Monmouth, IL vs Ridgewood, IL

The cost of living difference between Monmouth, IL and Ridgewood, IL is dramatic. Monmouth is 33.9% cheaper than Ridgewood, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Monmouth has a cost index of 61 while Ridgewood sits at 92, 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 Monmouth is $652/month compared to $1,455/month in Ridgewood — a 55% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Monmouth is more affordable at $88,100 median vs $142,400.

Median household income in Monmouth is $59,690 compared to $96,334 in Ridgewood (-38%). While Ridgewood is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Monmouth spend roughly 13.1% of their income on rent, less than the 18.1% in Ridgewood.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 52.1°F). Monmouth receives more rainfall at 37.9" per year compared to 34.4" in Ridgewood.