Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in DuPage County, IL would need to be about $35,165 in Franklin County, IL, or $14,835 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
DuPage County, IL vs Franklin County, IL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Franklin County, IL is cheaper than DuPage County, IL.
Moving to Franklin County, IL is estimated to save $19,518 per year.
Cheaper County
Franklin County, ILSave about $19,518 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in DuPage County, IL is about $35,165 in Franklin County, IL.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $4,519 per year. Housing saves $13,087 per year.
Housing: $13,087 lower in Franklin County, IL
Taxes: $5,851 lower in Franklin County, IL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $4,519 higher in Franklin County, IL
Food: $992 lower in Franklin County, IL
Transport: $265 higher in Franklin County, IL
DuPage County, IL→Franklin County, IL
Equivalent salary in Franklin County, IL
$35,165
-29.67% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in DuPage County, IL: $136,376
Median Income in Franklin County, IL: $67,459
Living Index in DuPage County, IL 48.23%
Living Index in Franklin County, IL 68.57%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from DuPage County, IL to Franklin 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 Franklin County, IL is estimated to save $19,518 per year. A $50,000 salary in DuPage County, IL would have similar purchasing power to about $35,165 in Franklin County, IL. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -29.67% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,087 per year lower (-64.62%); Taxes is $5,851 per year lower (-38.42%).
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 Franklin 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 68.6% in Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County, IL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $992 per year lower in Franklin County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Franklin County, IL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $265 per year higher in Franklin 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 Franklin County, IL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $4,519 per year higher in Franklin County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Franklin County, IL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,371 per year lower in Franklin County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Franklin 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 Franklin County, IL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Franklin County, IL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $5,851 per year lower in Franklin County, IL than in DuPage County, IL. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Franklin 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 Franklin County, IL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Franklin County, IL
Annual Increase:
$4,519 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Franklin County, IL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Franklin County, IL
Annual Savings:
$13,087 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Franklin County, IL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -65% lower | |
| Food | -21% lower | |
| Transport | 2% higher | |
| Healthcare | 89% higher | |
| Other Costs | -56% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -38% lower |
In Franklin County, IL, modeled annual costs are $46,256 compared with $65,774 in DuPage County, IL.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Franklin County, IL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Franklin 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.
