Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Cook County, IL would need to be about $44,470 in Monroe County, IL, or $5,530 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Cook County, IL vs Monroe County, IL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Monroe County, IL is cheaper than Cook County, IL.
Moving to Monroe County, IL is estimated to save $6,128 per year.
Cheaper County
Monroe County, ILSave about $6,128 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Cook County, IL is about $44,470 in Monroe County, IL.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $4,184 per year. Housing saves $6,629 per year.
Housing: $6,629 lower in Monroe County, IL
Taxes: $1,611 lower in Monroe County, IL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $500 higher in Monroe County, IL
Food: $393 lower in Monroe County, IL
Transport: $4,184 higher in Monroe County, IL
Cook County, IL→Monroe County, IL
Equivalent salary in Monroe County, IL
$44,470
-11.06% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Cook County, IL: $102,297
Median Income in Monroe County, IL: $128,922
Living Index in Cook County, IL 54.16%
Living Index in Monroe County, IL 38.22%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Cook County, IL to Monroe County, IL.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Cook County, IL to Monroe County, IL is estimated to save $6,128 per year. A $50,000 salary in Cook County, IL would have similar purchasing power to about $44,470 in Monroe County, IL. The largest savings come from housing and other costs.
This is a -11.06% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $6,629 per year lower (-38.59%); Other Costs is $2,180 per year lower (-32.15%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Cook County, IL and Monroe County, IL, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 54.2% of median family income in Cook County, IL and 38.2% in Monroe County, IL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $6,629 per year lower in Monroe County, IL than in Cook County, IL. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Monroe County, IL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $393 per year lower in Monroe County, IL than in Cook County, IL. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Monroe County, IL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $4,184 per year higher in Monroe County, IL than in Cook County, IL. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Monroe County, IL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $500 per year higher in Monroe County, IL than in Cook County, IL. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Monroe County, IL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,180 per year lower in Monroe County, IL than in Cook County, IL. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Monroe County, IL help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Cook County, IL and Monroe County, IL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Monroe County, IL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $1,611 per year lower in Monroe County, IL than in Cook County, IL. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Monroe County, IL matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Monroe County, IL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Monroe County, IL
Annual Increase:
$4,184 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Monroe County, IL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Monroe County, IL
Annual Savings:
$6,629 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Monroe County, IL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -39% lower | |
| Food | -8% lower | |
| Transport | 42% higher | |
| Healthcare | 10% higher | |
| Other Costs | -32% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -14% lower |
In Monroe County, IL, modeled annual costs are $49,271 compared with $55,399 in Cook County, IL.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Monroe County, IL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Monroe County, IL and Cook County, IL are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
