Oak Park, IL vs Ottawa, IL

The cost of living difference between Oak Park, IL and Ottawa, IL is dramatic. Ottawa is 60% cheaper than Oak Park, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Oak Park has a cost index of 117 while Ottawa sits at 73, 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 Oak Park is $1,456/month compared to $922/month in Ottawa — a 58% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ottawa is more affordable at $144,500 median vs $456,300.

Median household income in Oak Park is $108,026 compared to $73,011 in Ottawa (+48%). The higher salaries in Oak Park partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Oak Park spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, more than the 15.2% in Ottawa.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.1°F vs 49.4°F). Oak Park receives more rainfall at 34.4" per year compared to 33.8" in Ottawa.