Crete, IL vs Winthrop Harbor, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Winthrop Harbor, IL has a modeled overall cost index 12.1% lower than Crete, IL.

Crete, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,570 / month
Winthrop Harbor, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,510 / 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 Crete, IL and Winthrop Harbor, IL 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 Crete, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,013/month in Winthrop Harbor, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $137,838 in Winthrop Harbor, IL

Regional cost estimates: Crete, IL uses Chicago, IL. Winthrop Harbor, IL uses Milwaukee, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 12.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,013

Savings

Annual Impact

$12.2K

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.

Crete, IL

Population:8K

Cost Index:

94.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$288K

Winthrop Harbor, IL

Population:7K

Cost Index:

82.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$287K

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Crete, IL

The Prairie State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Winthrop Harbor, IL

The Prairie State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Crete, IL vs Winthrop Harbor, IL

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	Crete, IL	Winthrop Harbor, IL	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,437/mo	$1,596/mo	↓ $842less	34.5%
Transportation	$1,484/mo	$1,297/mo	↓ $187less	12.6%
Healthcare	$562/mo	$694/mo	↑ $132more	23.5%
Other	$1,552/mo	$1,482/mo	↓ $70.69less	4.6%
Groceries	$973/mo	$927/mo	↓ $46.42less	4.8%
All Utilities	$491/mo	$491/mo	↑ $0.11more	0.0%

Housing

↓ 34.5%

Crete, IL

$2,437

Winthrop Harbor, IL

$1,596

Difference

$842

less

Transportation

↓ 12.6%

Crete, IL

$1,484

Winthrop Harbor, IL

$1,297

Difference

$187

less

Healthcare

↑ 23.5%

Crete, IL

$562

Winthrop Harbor, IL

$694

Difference

$132

Other

↓ 4.6%

Crete, IL

$1,552

Winthrop Harbor, IL

$1,482

Difference

$70.69

less

Groceries

↓ 4.8%

Crete, IL

$973

Winthrop Harbor, IL

$927

Difference

$46.42

less

All Utilities

↑ 0.0%

Crete, IL

$491

Winthrop Harbor, IL

$491

Difference

$0.11

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,300

To$1,250

↓ $50.00

1 Bed

From$1,390

To$1,340

↓ $50.00

2 Bed

From$1,570

To$1,510

↓ $60.00

3 Bed

From$2,020

To$1,940

↓ $80.00

Crete, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,390–$1,390/mo

Winthrop Harbor, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,340–$1,340/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 Crete, IL

$6,487

Monthly in Winthrop Harbor, IL

$1,013

Difference

Home Values

Crete

Winthrop Harbor

$288K

Median Value

$287K

↑ +4.5%

YoY Change

↑ +15%

↑ +38.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +62.7%

Calculate payment - Crete Calculate payment - Winthrop Harbor

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Crete, 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

Winthrop Harbor, 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

Additional Tax Information

Crete, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Winthrop Harbor, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

💡 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

Crete

Winthrop Harbor

54 Moderate

Air Quality

43 Good

35.8%

Good Air Days

68.6%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

13 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

13 days

Before moving from Crete, IL to Winthrop Harbor, IL

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Winthrop Harbor, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Crete, 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 Crete to Winthrop Harbor moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Winthrop Harbor, IL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Crete, IL vs Winthrop Harbor, IL

How do the cost estimates for Crete, IL and Winthrop Harbor, IL compare?

Winthrop Harbor, IL has a modeled overall cost index 12.1% lower than Crete, 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 Crete, IL, the model estimates $137,838 in Winthrop Harbor, IL. 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 Crete, IL and Winthrop Harbor, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,570/month in Crete, IL and $1,510/month in Winthrop Harbor, IL. 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.