Romeoville, IL vs Sterling, IL

The cost of living difference between Romeoville, IL and Sterling, IL is dramatic. Sterling is 71.5% cheaper than Romeoville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Romeoville has a cost index of 113 while Sterling 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 Romeoville is $1,892/month compared to $780/month in Sterling — a 143% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Sterling is more affordable at $107,800 median vs $245,200.

Median household income in Romeoville is $100,022 compared to $52,647 in Sterling (+90%). While Romeoville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Romeoville spend roughly 22.7% of their income on rent, more than the 17.8% in Sterling.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.1°F vs 49.4°F). Sterling receives more rainfall at 37.2" per year compared to 34.4" in Romeoville.