Winthrop Harbor, IL vs Crete, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Crete, IL has a modeled overall cost index 13.8% higher than Winthrop Harbor, IL.

Winthrop Harbor, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,510 / month
Crete, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,570 / 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 Winthrop Harbor, IL and Crete, 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 Winthrop Harbor, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,172/month in Crete, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $164,062 in Crete, IL

Regional cost estimates: Winthrop Harbor, IL uses Milwaukee, WI. Crete, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 13.8%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,172

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$14.1K

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.

Winthrop Harbor, IL

Population:7K

Cost Index:

82.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$287K

Crete, IL

Population:8K

Cost Index:

94.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$288K

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Winthrop Harbor, IL

The Prairie State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Crete, IL

The Prairie State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Winthrop Harbor, IL vs Crete, 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	Winthrop Harbor, IL	Crete, IL	Difference	Change
Housing	$1,845/mo	$2,818/mo	↑ $973more	52.7%
Transportation	$1,500/mo	$1,716/mo	↑ $216more	14.4%
Healthcare	$803/mo	$650/mo	↓ $153less	19.0%
Other	$1,713/mo	$1,795/mo	↑ $81.74more	4.8%
Groceries	$1,071/mo	$1,125/mo	↑ $53.67more	5.0%
All Utilities	$568/mo	$567/mo	↓ $0.13less	0.0%

Housing

↑ 52.7%

Winthrop Harbor, IL

$1,845

Crete, IL

$2,818

Difference

$973

Transportation

↑ 14.4%

Winthrop Harbor, IL

$1,500

Crete, IL

$1,716

Difference

$216

Healthcare

↓ 19.0%

Winthrop Harbor, IL

$803

Crete, IL

$650

Difference

$153

less

Other

↑ 4.8%

Winthrop Harbor, IL

$1,713

Crete, IL

$1,795

Difference

$81.74

Groceries

↑ 5.0%

Winthrop Harbor, IL

$1,071

Crete, IL

$1,125

Difference

$53.67

All Utilities

↓ 0.0%

Winthrop Harbor, IL

$568

Crete, IL

$567

Difference

$0.13

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,250

To$1,300

↑ $50.00

1 Bed

From$1,340

To$1,390

↑ $50.00

2 Bed

From$1,510

To$1,570

↑ $60.00

3 Bed

From$1,940

To$2,020

↑ $80.00

Winthrop Harbor, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,340–$1,340/mo

Crete, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,390–$1,390/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 Winthrop Harbor, IL

$8,672

Monthly in Crete, IL

$1,172

Difference

Home Values

Winthrop Harbor

Crete

$287K

Median Value

$288K

↑ +15%

YoY Change

↑ +4.5%

↑ +62.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +38.5%

Calculate payment - Winthrop Harbor Calculate payment - Crete

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

Winthrop Harbor, 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

Crete, 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

Winthrop Harbor, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Crete, 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

Winthrop Harbor

Crete

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 Winthrop Harbor, IL to Crete, IL

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Winthrop Harbor, IL vs Crete, IL

How do the cost estimates for Winthrop Harbor, IL and Crete, IL compare?

Crete, IL has a modeled overall cost index 13.8% higher than Winthrop Harbor, 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 Winthrop Harbor, IL, the model estimates $164,062 in Crete, 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 Winthrop Harbor, IL and Crete, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,510/month in Winthrop Harbor, IL and $1,570/month in Crete, 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.

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