Monticello, IL vs Ottawa, IL

Ottawa is moderately more affordable than Monticello, with a 7.7% lower cost of living index. Monticello scores 79 compared to 73 for Ottawa, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Monticello can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Monticello is $1,030/month compared to $922/month in Ottawa — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ottawa is more affordable at $144,500 median vs $196,000.

Median household income in Monticello is $88,611 compared to $73,011 in Ottawa (+21.4%). While Monticello is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Monticello spend roughly 13.9% of their income on rent, less than the 15.2% in Ottawa.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.1°F vs 49.4°F). Monticello receives more rainfall at 39.6" per year compared to 33.8" in Ottawa.