City Comparison

Champaign vs Roswell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Champaign

Illinois
81
Very Affordable
$215,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$56,100
Median Income

Roswell

Georgia
113
Above Average
$647,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$108,800
Median Income

The Verdict

28.3%

Champaign is 28.3% less expensive than Roswell overall. A household earning $75,000 in Champaign would need approximately $104,630 in Roswell to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
83
Champaign
187
Roswell
Groceries
98
Champaign
101
Roswell
Utilities
106
Champaign
98
Roswell
Transportation
99
Champaign
110
Roswell
Healthcare
90
Champaign
103
Roswell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Champaign has the same purchasing power as $104,630 in Roswell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $53,761 in Champaign.

Living in Champaign vs Roswell

Housing Costs

Champaign's housing index of 83 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $215,000 vs $647,000. The $432,000 difference in home prices means roughly $28,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Champaign compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Champaign and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Champaign vs $480/month in Roswell. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 106 in Champaign and 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $424 in Champaign vs $392 in Roswell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in Champaign and 103 in Roswell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $56,100 in Champaign and $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,259 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,309/month to housing in Champaign vs $2,539/month in Roswell. In Champaign, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 104 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Champaign is 28.3% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Champaign has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $104,630 in Roswell, based on the cost of living difference.
Champaign's housing index is 83 with median homes at $215,000, while Roswell's is 187 with median homes at $647,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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