Elgin, IL vs Greenwood, IN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Greenwood, IN has a modeled overall cost index 17.5% lower than Elgin, IL.

Elgin, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,615 / month
Greenwood, IN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,590 / 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 Elgin, IL and Greenwood, 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 Elgin, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,486/month in Greenwood, IN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $132,167 in Greenwood, IN

Regional cost estimates: Elgin, IL uses Chicago, IL. Greenwood, IN uses Indianapolis, IN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 17.5%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,486

Savings

Annual Impact

$17.8K

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.

Elgin, IL

Population:113K

Cost Index:

99.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$291K

Greenwood, IN

Population:66K

Cost Index:

82.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$318K

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Elgin, IL

The Prairie State

113K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 113K residents.

Greenwood, IN

The Hoosier State

66K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 66K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Elgin, IL vs Greenwood, 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	Elgin, IL	Greenwood, IN	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,455/mo	$1,599/mo	↓ $856less	34.9%
Transportation	$1,495/mo	$1,083/mo	↓ $411less	27.5%
Other	$1,564/mo	$1,450/mo	↓ $114less	7.3%
Groceries	$954/mo	$863/mo	↓ $91.35less	9.6%
All Utilities	$481/mo	$472/mo	↓ $9.43less	2.0%
Healthcare	$551/mo	$547/mo	↓ $4.80less	0.9%

Housing

↓ 34.9%

Elgin, IL

$2,455

Greenwood, IN

$1,599

Difference

$856

less

Transportation

↓ 27.5%

Elgin, IL

$1,495

Greenwood, IN

$1,083

Difference

$411

less

Other

↓ 7.3%

Elgin, IL

$1,564

Greenwood, IN

$1,450

Difference

$114

less

Groceries

↓ 9.6%

Elgin, IL

$954

Greenwood, IN

$863

Difference

$91.35

less

All Utilities

↓ 2.0%

Elgin, IL

$481

Greenwood, IN

$472

Difference

$9.43

less

Healthcare

↓ 0.9%

Elgin, IL

$551

Greenwood, IN

$547

Difference

$4.80

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,340

To$1,205

↓ $135

1 Bed

From$1,435

To$1,365

↓ $70.00

2 Bed

From$1,615

To$1,590

↓ $25.00

3 Bed

From$2,080

To$2,060

↓ $20.00

Elgin, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,410–$1,460/mo

Greenwood, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,210–$1,520/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 Elgin, IL

$6,014

Monthly in Greenwood, IN

$1,486

Difference

Home Values

Elgin

Greenwood

$291K

Median Value

$318K

↑ +3.2%

YoY Change

↑ +0.9%

↑ +44.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +32.5%

$285K - $297K

Price Range

$309K - $326K

Homes in Greenwood are 9% more expensive than Elgin

Calculate payment - Elgin Calculate payment - Greenwood

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

Elgin, 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

Greenwood, 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

Elgin, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Greenwood, 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

Elgin

Greenwood

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 Elgin, IL to Greenwood, IN

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Greenwood, IN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Elgin, 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 Elgin to Greenwood moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Elgin, IL vs Greenwood, IN

How do the cost estimates for Elgin, IL and Greenwood, IN compare?

Greenwood, IN has a modeled overall cost index 17.5% lower than Elgin, 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 Elgin, IL, the model estimates $132,167 in Greenwood, 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 Elgin, IL and Greenwood, IN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,615/month in Elgin, IL and $1,590/month in Greenwood, 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