Rolling Meadows, IL vs Wheaton, IL

Rolling Meadows is moderately more affordable than Wheaton, with a 13.8% lower cost of living index. Rolling Meadows scores 108 compared to 125 for Wheaton, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Wheaton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Rolling Meadows is $1,563/month compared to $1,731/month in Wheaton — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rolling Meadows is more affordable at $299,700 median vs $447,700.

Median household income in Rolling Meadows is $100,424 compared to $119,566 in Wheaton (-16%). While Wheaton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Rolling Meadows spend roughly 18.7% of their income on rent, more than the 17.4% in Wheaton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 49.7°F). Wheaton receives more rainfall at 33.2" per year compared to 32.3" in Rolling Meadows.