Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in DuPage County, IL would need to be about $37,455 in Monroe County, IL, or $12,545 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
DuPage County, IL vs Monroe County, IL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Monroe County, IL is cheaper than DuPage County, IL.
Moving to Monroe County, IL is estimated to save $16,503 per year.
Cheaper County
Monroe County, ILSave about $16,503 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in DuPage County, IL is about $37,455 in Monroe County, IL.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,568 per year. Housing saves $9,702 per year.
Housing: $9,702 lower in Monroe County, IL
Taxes: $5,108 lower in Monroe County, IL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $417 higher in Monroe County, IL
Food: $508 lower in Monroe County, IL
Transport: $1,568 higher in Monroe County, IL
DuPage County, IL→Monroe County, IL
Equivalent salary in Monroe County, IL
$37,455
-25.09% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in DuPage County, IL: $136,376
Median Income in Monroe County, IL: $128,922
Living Index in DuPage County, IL 48.23%
Living Index in Monroe County, IL 38.22%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from DuPage 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 DuPage County, IL to Monroe County, IL is estimated to save $16,503 per year. A $50,000 salary in DuPage County, IL would have similar purchasing power to about $37,455 in Monroe County, IL. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -25.09% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $9,702 per year lower (-47.91%); Taxes is $5,108 per year lower (-33.54%).
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 Monroe 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 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 $9,702 per year lower in Monroe 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 Monroe County, IL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $508 per year lower in Monroe County, IL than in DuPage 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 $1,568 per year higher in Monroe 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 Monroe County, IL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $417 per year higher in Monroe County, IL than in DuPage 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 $3,169 per year lower in Monroe County, IL than in DuPage 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 DuPage 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 $5,108 per year lower in Monroe County, IL than in DuPage 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:
$1,568 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:
$9,702 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 | -48% lower | |
| Food | -11% lower | |
| Transport | 12% higher | |
| Healthcare | 8% higher | |
| Other Costs | -41% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -34% lower |
In Monroe County, IL, modeled annual costs are $49,271 compared with $65,774 in DuPage 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 DuPage County, IL are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
