Palatine, IL vs Rock Island, IL

The cost of living difference between Palatine, IL and Rock Island, IL is dramatic. Rock Island is 65.6% cheaper than Palatine, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Palatine has a cost index of 109 while Rock Island sits at 66, 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 Palatine is $1,467/month compared to $819/month in Rock Island — a 79% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rock Island is more affordable at $118,400 median vs $347,900.

Median household income in Palatine is $95,950 compared to $57,292 in Rock Island (+67.5%). While Palatine is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Palatine spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, more than the 17.2% in Rock Island.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 51.2°F). Rock Island receives more rainfall at 38.3" per year compared to 32.3" in Palatine.