Wheaton, IL vs Downers Grove, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Downers Grove, IL has a modeled overall cost index 0.1% lower than Wheaton, IL.

Wheaton, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $2,130 / month
Downers Grove, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $2,095 / 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 Wheaton, IL and Downers Grove, 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 Wheaton, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $9.73/month in Downers Grove, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,883 in Downers Grove, IL

Regional cost estimates: Wheaton, IL uses Chicago, IL. Downers Grove, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 0.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$9.73

Savings

Annual Impact

$117

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.

Wheaton, IL

Population:53K

Cost Index:

98.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$472K

Downers Grove, IL

Population:50K

Cost Index:

98.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$471K

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Wheaton, IL

The Prairie State

53K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 53K residents.

Downers Grove, IL

The Prairie State

50K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 50K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Wheaton, IL vs Downers Grove, 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	Wheaton, IL	Downers Grove, IL	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,453/mo	$2,449/mo	↓ $3.67less	0.1%
Other	$1,562/mo	$1,560/mo	↓ $2.34less	0.1%
Transportation	$1,493/mo	$1,491/mo	↓ $2.23less	0.1%
Groceries	$957/mo	$956/mo	↓ $0.72less	0.1%
Healthcare	$553/mo	$552/mo	↓ $0.41less	0.1%
All Utilities	$482/mo	$482/mo	↓ $0.36less	0.1%

Housing

↓ 0.1%

Wheaton, IL

$2,453

Downers Grove, IL

$2,449

Difference

$3.67

less

Other

↓ 0.1%

Wheaton, IL

$1,562

Downers Grove, IL

$1,560

Difference

$2.34

less

Transportation

↓ 0.1%

Wheaton, IL

$1,493

Downers Grove, IL

$1,491

Difference

$2.23

less

Groceries

↓ 0.1%

Wheaton, IL

$957

Downers Grove, IL

$956

Difference

$0.72

less

Healthcare

↓ 0.1%

Wheaton, IL

$553

Downers Grove, IL

$552

Difference

$0.41

less

All Utilities

↓ 0.1%

Wheaton, IL

$482

Downers Grove, IL

$482

Difference

$0.36

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,770

To$1,740

↓ $30.00

1 Bed

From$1,890

To$1,860

↓ $30.00

2 Bed

From$2,130

To$2,095

↓ $35.00

3 Bed

From$2,740

To$2,700

↓ $40.00

Wheaton, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,890–$1,890/mo

Downers Grove, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,850–$1,870/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 Wheaton, IL

$7,490

Monthly in Downers Grove, IL

$9.73

Difference

Home Values

Wheaton

Downers Grove

$472K

Median Value

$471K

↑ +6.5%

YoY Change

↑ +6.7%

↑ +32.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +34.2%

$472K

Price Range

$469K - $472K

Calculate payment - Wheaton Calculate payment - Downers Grove

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

Wheaton, 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

Downers Grove, 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

Wheaton, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Downers Grove, 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

Wheaton

Downers Grove

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 Wheaton, IL to Downers Grove, IL

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Wheaton, IL vs Downers Grove, IL

How do the cost estimates for Wheaton, IL and Downers Grove, IL compare?

Downers Grove, IL has a modeled overall cost index 0.1% lower than Wheaton, 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 Wheaton, IL, the model estimates $149,883 in Downers Grove, 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 Wheaton, IL and Downers Grove, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,130/month in Wheaton, IL and $2,095/month in Downers Grove, 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.