Romeoville, IL vs Waukegan, IL

The cost of living difference between Romeoville, IL and Waukegan, IL is dramatic. Waukegan is 32.3% cheaper than Romeoville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Romeoville has a cost index of 113 while Waukegan sits at 86, 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 $1,163/month in Waukegan — a 63% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waukegan is more affordable at $177,600 median vs $245,200.

Median household income in Romeoville is $100,022 compared to $70,578 in Waukegan (+41.7%). 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 19.8% in Waukegan.

Climate-wise, Romeoville is notably warmer with an average of 52.1°F compared to 48.3°F in Waukegan. Waukegan receives more rainfall at 35.3" per year compared to 34.4" in Romeoville.