City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Elgin | San Jose | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,190/mo | $2,526/mo | 52.9% lower in A |
| Median home value | $242,500 | $1,149,600 | 78.9% lower in A |
| Median household income | $85,998 | $136,010 | 36.8% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 96.3 | 104.1 | 7.4% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 91.7 | 125.1 | 26.7% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 96.9 | 104.6 | 7.4% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 99.1 | 104.1 | 4.8% lower in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Elgin, you'd need $212,264 in San Jose to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Elgin, IL is about 52.9% cheaper overall than San Jose, CA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 53% lower in Elgin than in San Jose. If you earn $80,000 in Elgin, you'd need about $169,811 in San Jose to keep the same standard of living.