Woodstock, IL vs Melrose Park, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Melrose Park, IL has a modeled overall cost index 2.5% higher than Woodstock, IL.

Woodstock, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,530 / month
Melrose Park, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,520 / 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 Woodstock, IL and Melrose Park, 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 Woodstock, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $160/month in Melrose Park, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $151,921 in Melrose Park, IL

Regional cost estimates: Woodstock, IL uses Chicago, IL. Melrose Park, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 2.5%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$160

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$1.9K

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.

Woodstock, IL

Population:26K

Cost Index:

94.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$325K

Melrose Park, IL

Population:24K

Cost Index:

96.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$300K

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Woodstock, IL

The Prairie State

26K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 26K residents.

Melrose Park, IL

The Prairie State

24K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 24K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Woodstock, IL vs Melrose Park, 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	Woodstock, IL	Melrose Park, IL	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,438/mo	$2,499/mo	↑ $60.21more	2.5%
Other	$1,553/mo	$1,591/mo	↑ $38.35more	2.5%
Transportation	$1,484/mo	$1,521/mo	↑ $36.66more	2.5%
Groceries	$972/mo	$984/mo	↑ $11.93more	1.2%
Healthcare	$562/mo	$569/mo	↑ $6.89more	1.2%
All Utilities	$490/mo	$496/mo	↑ $6.02more	1.2%

Housing

↑ 2.5%

Woodstock, IL

$2,438

Melrose Park, IL

$2,499

Difference

$60.21

Other

↑ 2.5%

Woodstock, IL

$1,553

Melrose Park, IL

$1,591

Difference

$38.35

Transportation

↑ 2.5%

Woodstock, IL

$1,484

Melrose Park, IL

$1,521

Difference

$36.66

Groceries

↑ 1.2%

Woodstock, IL

$972

Melrose Park, IL

$984

Difference

$11.93

Healthcare

↑ 1.2%

Woodstock, IL

$562

Melrose Park, IL

$569

Difference

$6.89

All Utilities

↑ 1.2%

Woodstock, IL

$490

Melrose Park, IL

$496

Difference

$6.02

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,270

To$1,260

↓ $10.00

1 Bed

From$1,360

To$1,350

↓ $10.00

2 Bed

From$1,530

To$1,520

↓ $10.00

3 Bed

From$1,970

To$1,960

↓ $10.00

Woodstock, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,360–$1,360/mo

Melrose Park, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,350–$1,350/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 Woodstock, IL

$7,660

Monthly in Melrose Park, IL

$160

Difference

Home Values

Woodstock

Melrose Park

$325K

Median Value

$300K

↑ +4.4%

YoY Change

↑ +0.7%

↑ +43.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +23.6%

Homes in Melrose Park are 8% less expensive than Woodstock

Calculate payment - Woodstock Calculate payment - Melrose Park

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

Woodstock, 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

Melrose Park, 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

Woodstock, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Melrose Park, 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

Woodstock

Melrose Park

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 Woodstock, IL to Melrose Park, IL

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Woodstock, IL vs Melrose Park, IL

How do the cost estimates for Woodstock, IL and Melrose Park, IL compare?

Melrose Park, IL has a modeled overall cost index 2.5% higher than Woodstock, 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 Woodstock, IL, the model estimates $151,921 in Melrose Park, 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 Woodstock, IL and Melrose Park, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,530/month in Woodstock, IL and $1,520/month in Melrose Park, 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.