Carol Stream, IL vs Brownsburg, IN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Brownsburg, IN has a modeled overall cost index 17.7% lower than Carol Stream, IL.

Carol Stream, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,810 / month
Brownsburg, IN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,740 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Carol Stream, IL and Brownsburg, IN using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Carol Stream, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,496/month in Brownsburg, IN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $132,048 in Brownsburg, IN

Regional cost estimates: Carol Stream, IL uses Chicago, IL. Brownsburg, IN uses Indianapolis, IN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 17.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,496

Savings

Annual Impact

$18.0K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Carol Stream, IL

Population:39K

Cost Index:

98.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$368K

Brownsburg, IN

Population:32K

Cost Index:

80.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$351K

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Carol Stream, IL

The Prairie State

39K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 39K residents.

Brownsburg, IN

The Hoosier State

32K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 32K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Carol Stream, IL vs Brownsburg, IN

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Carol Stream, IL	Brownsburg, IN	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,450/mo	$1,592/mo	↓ $858less	35.0%
Transportation	$1,492/mo	$1,079/mo	↓ $413less	27.7%
Other	$1,561/mo	$1,444/mo	↓ $117less	7.5%
Groceries	$959/mo	$866/mo	↓ $92.86less	9.7%
All Utilities	$484/mo	$474/mo	↓ $10.04less	2.1%
Healthcare	$554/mo	$549/mo	↓ $5.48less	1.0%

Housing

↓ 35.0%

Carol Stream, IL

$2,450

Brownsburg, IN

$1,592

Difference

$858

less

Transportation

↓ 27.7%

Carol Stream, IL

$1,492

Brownsburg, IN

$1,079

Difference

$413

less

Other

↓ 7.5%

Carol Stream, IL

$1,561

Brownsburg, IN

$1,444

Difference

$117

less

Groceries

↓ 9.7%

Carol Stream, IL

$959

Brownsburg, IN

$866

Difference

$92.86

less

All Utilities

↓ 2.1%

Carol Stream, IL

$484

Brownsburg, IN

$474

Difference

$10.04

less

Healthcare

↓ 1.0%

Carol Stream, IL

$554

Brownsburg, IN

$549

Difference

$5.48

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,500

To$1,320

↓ $180

1 Bed

From$1,610

To$1,500

↓ $110

2 Bed

From$1,810

To$1,740

↓ $70.00

3 Bed

From$2,330

To$2,250

↓ $80.00

Carol Stream, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,610–$1,610/mo

Brownsburg, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,500–$1,500/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Carol Stream, IL

$6,004

Monthly in Brownsburg, IN

$1,496

Difference

Home Values

Carol Stream

Brownsburg

$368K

Median Value

$351K

↑ +4.2%

YoY Change

↑ +0.7%

↑ +37.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +36.3%

Homes in Brownsburg are 4% less expensive than Carol Stream

Calculate payment - Carol Stream Calculate payment - Brownsburg

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $2.6K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$215

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.7%

Rate difference

Carol Stream, IL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Illinois State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,797/month

$105.6K

Brownsburg, IN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Indiana State Tax

Effective: 3.2%

$4.8K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.9%

$41.9K

Take-Home Pay

$9,012/month

$108.1K

Additional Tax Information

Carol Stream, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Brownsburg, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%

Property Tax:0.9%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Carol Stream

Brownsburg

54 Moderate

Air Quality

54 Moderate

35.8%

Good Air Days

36.6%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

97 High

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.1°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

18 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.1°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

18 days

Before moving from Carol Stream, IL to Brownsburg, IN

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Brownsburg, IN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Carol Stream, IL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Carol Stream to Brownsburg moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Brownsburg, IN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Carol Stream, IL vs Brownsburg, IN

How do the cost estimates for Carol Stream, IL and Brownsburg, IN compare?

Brownsburg, IN has a modeled overall cost index 17.7% lower than Carol Stream, IL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Carol Stream, IL, the model estimates $132,048 in Brownsburg, IN. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Carol Stream, IL and Brownsburg, IN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,810/month in Carol Stream, IL and $1,740/month in Brownsburg, IN. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Illinois and Indiana on TaxTakeHome.com