St. Charles, IL vs Waukegan, IL

The cost of living difference between St. Charles, IL and Waukegan, IL is dramatic. Waukegan is 40.5% cheaper than St. Charles, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. St. Charles has a cost index of 120 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 St. Charles is $1,788/month compared to $1,163/month in Waukegan — a 54% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Waukegan is more affordable at $177,600 median vs $369,700.

Median household income in St. Charles is $115,350 compared to $70,578 in Waukegan (+63.4%). While St. Charles is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of St. Charles spend roughly 18.6% of their income on rent, less than the 19.8% in Waukegan.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.7°F vs 48.3°F). Waukegan receives more rainfall at 35.3" per year compared to 33.2" in St. Charles.