Mequon, WI vs Glen Ellyn, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Glen Ellyn, IL has a modeled overall cost index 14.8% higher than Mequon, WI.

Mequon, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,810 / month
Glen Ellyn, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,640 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Mequon, WI and Glen Ellyn, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,242/month in Glen Ellyn, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $164,903 in Glen Ellyn, IL

Regional cost estimates: Mequon, WI uses Milwaukee, WI. Glen Ellyn, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 14.8%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,242
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$14.9K
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.

Mequon, WI

Population:25K
Cost Index:
84.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$608K

Glen Ellyn, IL

Population:28K
Cost Index:
97.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$530K

Planning the move to Glen Ellyn?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Mequon, WI

The Badger State

25K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 25K residents.

Glen Ellyn, IL

The Prairie State

28K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 28K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mequon, WI vs Glen Ellyn, 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
↑ 54.1%
Mequon, WI
$1,852
Glen Ellyn, IL
$2,853
Difference
$1,001
more
Transportation
↑ 15.4%
Mequon, WI
$1,506
Glen Ellyn, IL
$1,737
Difference
$231
more
Healthcare
↓ 18.7%
Mequon, WI
$797
Glen Ellyn, IL
$648
Difference
$149
less
Other
↑ 5.7%
Mequon, WI
$1,720
Glen Ellyn, IL
$1,817
Difference
$97.54
more
Groceries
↑ 5.5%
Mequon, WI
$1,063
Glen Ellyn, IL
$1,121
Difference
$58.04
more
All Utilities
↑ 0.4%
Mequon, WI
$563
Glen Ellyn, IL
$565
Difference
$2.29
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,385
To$1,360
↓ $25.00
1 Bed
From$1,510
To$1,460
↓ $50.00
2 Bed
From$1,810
To$1,640
↓ $170
3 Bed
From$2,230
To$2,110
↓ $120
Mequon, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,340–$1,680/mo

Glen Ellyn, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,460–$1,460/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 Mequon, WI
$8,742
Monthly in Glen Ellyn, IL
$1,242
Difference

Home Values

Mequon
Glen Ellyn
$608K
Median Value
$530K
↑ +2.8%
YoY Change
↑ +6.8%
↑ +20.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +38%
$571K - $646K
Price Range
$530K

Homes in Glen Ellyn are 13% less expensive than Mequon

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.4K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$119
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

Mequon, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Glen Ellyn, 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

Mequon, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

Glen Ellyn, 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

Mequon
Glen Ellyn
43 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
68.6%
Good Air Days
35.8%
98 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
13 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Mequon, WI to Glen Ellyn, 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 Glen Ellyn, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Mequon, WI. 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 Mequon to Glen Ellyn moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Mequon, WI vs Glen Ellyn, IL

How do the cost estimates for Mequon, WI and Glen Ellyn, IL compare?

Glen Ellyn, IL has a modeled overall cost index 14.8% higher than Mequon, WI. 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 Mequon, WI, the model estimates $164,903 in Glen Ellyn, 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 Mequon, WI and Glen Ellyn, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,810/month in Mequon, WI and $1,640/month in Glen Ellyn, 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 Wisconsin and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

Similar cost to Glen Ellyn, IL

Other cities in a similar price range

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison