Monmouth, IL vs West Chicago, IL

The cost of living difference between Monmouth, IL and West Chicago, IL is dramatic. Monmouth is 41% cheaper than West Chicago, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Monmouth has a cost index of 61 while West Chicago sits at 103, 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 $1,376/month in West Chicago — a 53% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Monmouth is more affordable at $88,100 median vs $306,500.

Median household income in Monmouth is $59,690 compared to $100,568 in West Chicago (-40.6%). The higher salaries in West Chicago partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Monmouth spend roughly 13.1% of their income on rent, less than the 16.4% in West Chicago.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 49.7°F). Monmouth receives more rainfall at 37.9" per year compared to 33.2" in West Chicago.