Delaware, OH vs Oswego, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Oswego, IL has a modeled overall cost index 15.3% higher than Delaware, OH.

Delaware, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,410 / month
Oswego, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,660 / 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 Delaware, OH and Oswego, 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

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,349/month in Oswego, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $166,183 in Oswego, IL

Regional cost estimates: Delaware, OH uses Columbus, OH. Oswego, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 15.3%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,349
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$16.2K
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.

Delaware, OH

Population:45K
Cost Index:
84.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$397K

Oswego, IL

Population:37K
Cost Index:
97.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$407K

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Delaware, OH

The Buckeye State

45K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 45K residents.

Oswego, IL

The Prairie State

37K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 37K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Delaware, OH vs Oswego, 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.

Housing
↑ 43.3%
Delaware, OH
$2,014
Oswego, IL
$2,886
Difference
$873
more
Transportation
↑ 18.0%
Delaware, OH
$1,489
Oswego, IL
$1,757
Difference
$268
more
Other
↑ 8.3%
Delaware, OH
$1,697
Oswego, IL
$1,838
Difference
$142
more
All Utilities
↑ 9.5%
Delaware, OH
$524
Oswego, IL
$573
Difference
$49.65
more
Groceries
↑ 4.0%
Delaware, OH
$1,093
Oswego, IL
$1,137
Difference
$43.91
more
Healthcare
↓ 4.0%
Delaware, OH
$684
Oswego, IL
$657
Difference
$27.65
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,100
To$1,140
↑ $40.00
1 Bed
From$1,180
To$1,270
↑ $90.00
2 Bed
From$1,410
To$1,660
↑ $250
3 Bed
From$1,690
To$2,280
↑ $590
Delaware, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,180–$1,180/mo

Oswego, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,270–$1,270/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 Delaware, OH
$8,849
Monthly in Oswego, IL
$1,349
Difference

Home Values

Delaware
Oswego
$397K
Median Value
$407K
↑ +1.2%
YoY Change
↑ +4.1%
↑ +33.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +49.9%

Homes in Oswego are 3% more expensive than Delaware

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $3.0K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$250
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.0%
Rate difference

Delaware, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Oswego, 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

Delaware, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

Oswego, 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

Delaware
Oswego
53 Moderate
Air Quality
54 Moderate
41.3%
Good Air Days
35.8%
98 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
18 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Delaware, OH to Oswego, IL

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Oswego, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Delaware, OH. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Delaware to Oswego moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Delaware, OH vs Oswego, IL

How do the cost estimates for Delaware, OH and Oswego, IL compare?

Oswego, IL has a modeled overall cost index 15.3% higher than Delaware, OH. 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 Delaware, OH, the model estimates $166,183 in Oswego, 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 Delaware, OH and Oswego, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,410/month in Delaware, OH and $1,660/month in Oswego, 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.

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

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