Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in DuPage County, IL would need to be about $33,715 in Coles County, IL, or $16,285 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
DuPage County, IL vs Coles County, IL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Coles County, IL is cheaper than DuPage County, IL.
Moving to Coles County, IL is estimated to save $21,422 per year.
Cheaper County
Coles County, ILSave about $21,422 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in DuPage County, IL is about $33,715 in Coles County, IL.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $3,338 per year. Housing saves $12,883 per year.
Housing: $12,883 lower in Coles County, IL
Taxes: $6,320 lower in Coles County, IL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $3,338 higher in Coles County, IL
Food: $946 lower in Coles County, IL
Transport: $317 lower in Coles County, IL
DuPage County, IL→Coles County, IL
Equivalent salary in Coles County, IL
$33,715
-32.57% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in DuPage County, IL: $136,376
Median Income in Coles County, IL: $73,684
Living Index in DuPage County, IL 48.23%
Living Index in Coles County, IL 60.19%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from DuPage County, IL to Coles 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 DuPage County, IL to Coles County, IL is estimated to save $21,422 per year. A $50,000 salary in DuPage County, IL would have similar purchasing power to about $33,715 in Coles County, IL. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -32.57% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $12,883 per year lower (-63.62%); Taxes is $6,320 per year lower (-41.5%).
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 DuPage County, IL and Coles County, IL, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 48.2% of median family income in DuPage County, IL and 60.2% in Coles County, IL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $12,883 per year lower in Coles County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Coles County, IL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $946 per year lower in Coles County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Coles County, IL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $317 per year lower in Coles County, IL than in DuPage 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 Coles County, IL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $3,338 per year higher in Coles County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Coles County, IL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,293 per year lower in Coles County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Coles County, IL help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in DuPage County, IL and Coles County, IL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Coles County, IL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $6,320 per year lower in Coles County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Coles 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 Coles County, IL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Coles County, IL
Annual Increase:
$3,338 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Coles County, IL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Coles County, IL
Annual Savings:
$12,883 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Coles County, IL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -64% lower | |
| Food | -20% lower | |
| Transport | -2% lower | |
| Healthcare | 66% higher | |
| Other Costs | -55% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -42% lower |
In Coles County, IL, modeled annual costs are $44,352 compared with $65,774 in DuPage County, IL.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Coles County, IL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Coles County, IL is not a metropolitan location, while DuPage County, IL is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
