Oak Park, IL vs Springfield, IL

The cost of living difference between Oak Park, IL and Springfield, IL is dramatic. Springfield is 60.6% 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 Springfield 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 $945/month in Springfield — a 54% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Springfield is more affordable at $155,200 median vs $456,300.

Median household income in Oak Park is $108,026 compared to $65,537 in Springfield (+64.8%). While Oak Park is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Oak Park spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 17.3% in Springfield.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.1°F vs 54°F). Springfield receives more rainfall at 38" per year compared to 34.4" in Oak Park.