Ottawa, IL vs Wheaton, IL

The cost of living difference between Ottawa, IL and Wheaton, IL is dramatic. Ottawa is 41.3% cheaper than Wheaton, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Ottawa has a cost index of 73 while Wheaton sits at 125, 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 Ottawa is $922/month compared to $1,731/month in Wheaton — a 47% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ottawa is more affordable at $144,500 median vs $447,700.

Median household income in Ottawa is $73,011 compared to $119,566 in Wheaton (-38.9%). The higher salaries in Wheaton partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Ottawa spend roughly 15.2% of their income on rent, less than the 17.4% in Wheaton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.4°F vs 49.7°F). Ottawa receives more rainfall at 33.8" per year compared to 33.2" in Wheaton.