Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in DuPage County, IL would need to be about $34,230 in Edgar County, IL, or $15,770 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
DuPage County, IL vs Edgar County, IL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Edgar County, IL is cheaper than DuPage County, IL.
Moving to Edgar County, IL is estimated to save $20,743 per year.
Cheaper County
Edgar County, ILSave about $20,743 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in DuPage County, IL is about $34,230 in Edgar County, IL.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $3,338 per year. Housing saves $13,087 per year.
Housing: $13,087 lower in Edgar County, IL
Taxes: $6,152 lower in Edgar County, IL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $3,338 higher in Edgar County, IL
Food: $992 lower in Edgar County, IL
Transport: $522 higher in Edgar County, IL
DuPage County, IL→Edgar County, IL
Equivalent salary in Edgar County, IL
$34,230
-31.54% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in DuPage County, IL: $136,376
Median Income in Edgar County, IL: $74,364
Living Index in DuPage County, IL 48.23%
Living Index in Edgar County, IL 60.55%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from DuPage County, IL to Edgar 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 Edgar County, IL is estimated to save $20,743 per year. A $50,000 salary in DuPage County, IL would have similar purchasing power to about $34,230 in Edgar County, IL. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -31.54% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,087 per year lower (-64.62%); Taxes is $6,152 per year lower (-40.4%).
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 Edgar 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 60.6% in Edgar County, IL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $13,087 per year lower in Edgar 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 Edgar County, IL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $992 per year lower in Edgar County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Edgar County, IL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $522 per year higher in Edgar 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 Edgar County, IL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $3,338 per year higher in Edgar County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Edgar County, IL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,371 per year lower in Edgar County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Edgar 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 Edgar County, IL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Edgar County, IL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $6,152 per year lower in Edgar County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Edgar 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 Edgar County, IL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Edgar County, IL
Annual Increase:
$3,338 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Edgar County, IL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Edgar County, IL
Annual Savings:
$13,087 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Edgar County, IL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -65% lower | |
| Food | -21% lower | |
| Transport | 4% higher | |
| Healthcare | 66% higher | |
| Other Costs | -56% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -40% lower |
In Edgar County, IL, modeled annual costs are $45,031 compared with $65,774 in DuPage County, IL.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Edgar County, IL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Edgar 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.
