City Comparison

Franklin vs Naperville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Franklin

Tennessee
139
Expensive
$750,000
Median Home
$1,850/mo
Median Rent
$118,200
Median Income

Naperville

Illinois
112
Above Average
$430,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$118,254
Median Income

The Verdict

24.1%

Naperville is 24.1% less expensive than Franklin overall. A household earning $75,000 in Franklin would need approximately $60,432 in Naperville to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
230
Franklin
130
Naperville
Groceries
100
Franklin
104
Naperville
Utilities
97
Franklin
99
Naperville
Transportation
90
Franklin
116
Naperville
Healthcare
91
Franklin
101
Naperville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Franklin has the same purchasing power as $60,432 in Naperville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Naperville equals $93,080 in Franklin.

Living in Franklin vs Naperville

Housing Costs

Franklin's housing index of 230 is higher Naperville's 130, translating to median home prices of $750,000 vs $430,000. The $320,000 difference in home prices means roughly $20,796 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,850/mo in Franklin compared to $1,800/mo in Naperville, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Franklin and 104 in Naperville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Franklin vs $494/month in Naperville. 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 97 in Franklin and 99 in Naperville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Franklin vs $396 in Naperville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 91 in Franklin and 101 in Naperville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $118,200 in Franklin and $118,254 in Naperville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,036 and $105,584 respectively. Naperville residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,758/month to housing in Franklin vs $2,759/month in Naperville. In Franklin, median rent of $1,850/mo fits within this budget. In Naperville, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 100 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Naperville is 24.1% more affordable overall with an index of 112 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Franklin has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $60,432 in Naperville, based on the cost of living difference.
Franklin's housing index is 230 with median homes at $750,000, while Naperville's is 130 with median homes at $430,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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