Darien, IL vs Vernon Hills, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Vernon Hills, IL has a modeled overall cost index 0.1% lower than Darien, IL.

Darien, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $2,190 / month
Vernon Hills, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $2,390 / 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 Darien, IL and Vernon Hills, 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 Darien, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $5.84/month in Vernon Hills, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,930 in Vernon Hills, IL

Regional cost estimates: Darien, IL uses Chicago, IL. Vernon Hills, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 0.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$5.84

Savings

Annual Impact

$70.05

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.

Darien, IL

Population:22K

Cost Index:

96.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$433K

Vernon Hills, IL

Population:27K

Cost Index:

96.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$434K

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Darien, IL

The Prairie State

22K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 22K residents.

Vernon Hills, IL

The Prairie State

27K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 27K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Darien, IL vs Vernon Hills, 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	Darien, IL	Vernon Hills, IL	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,446/mo	$2,444/mo	↓ $2.20less	0.1%
Other	$1,558/mo	$1,556/mo	↓ $1.40less	0.1%
Transportation	$1,489/mo	$1,488/mo	↓ $1.34less	0.1%
Groceries	$964/mo	$964/mo	↓ $0.43less	0.0%
Healthcare	$557/mo	$557/mo	↓ $0.25less	0.0%
All Utilities	$486/mo	$486/mo	↓ $0.22less	0.0%

Housing

↓ 0.1%

Darien, IL

$2,446

Vernon Hills, IL

$2,444

Difference

$2.20

less

Other

↓ 0.1%

Darien, IL

$1,558

Vernon Hills, IL

$1,556

Difference

$1.40

less

Transportation

↓ 0.1%

Darien, IL

$1,489

Vernon Hills, IL

$1,488

Difference

$1.34

less

Groceries

↓ 0.0%

Darien, IL

$964

Vernon Hills, IL

$964

Difference

$0.43

less

Healthcare

↓ 0.0%

Darien, IL

$557

Vernon Hills, IL

$557

Difference

$0.25

less

All Utilities

↓ 0.0%

Darien, IL

$486

Vernon Hills, IL

$486

Difference

$0.22

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,820

To$1,990

↑ $170

1 Bed

From$1,940

To$2,120

↑ $180

2 Bed

From$2,190

To$2,390

↑ $200

3 Bed

From$2,820

To$3,080

↑ $260

Darien, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,940–$1,940/mo

Vernon Hills, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,120–$2,120/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 Darien, IL

$7,494

Monthly in Vernon Hills, IL

$5.84

Difference

Home Values

Darien

Vernon Hills

$433K

Median Value

$434K

↑ +4.8%

YoY Change

↑ +5.7%

↑ +31.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +43%

Calculate payment - Darien Calculate payment - Vernon Hills

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

Darien, 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

Vernon Hills, 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

Darien, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Vernon Hills, 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

Darien

Vernon Hills

54 Moderate

Air Quality

54 Moderate

35.8%

Good Air Days

35.8%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🫨

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.2°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

18 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.2°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

18 days

Before moving from Darien, IL to Vernon Hills, IL

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Darien, IL vs Vernon Hills, IL

How do the cost estimates for Darien, IL and Vernon Hills, IL compare?

Vernon Hills, IL has a modeled overall cost index 0.1% lower than Darien, 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 Darien, IL, the model estimates $149,930 in Vernon Hills, 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 Darien, IL and Vernon Hills, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,190/month in Darien, IL and $2,390/month in Vernon Hills, 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.