City Comparison

Great Falls vs Naperville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Great Falls

Montana
88
Below Average
$325,000
Median Home
$1,050/mo
Median Rent
$55,800
Median Income

Naperville

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

The Verdict

21.4%

Living in Great Falls costs 21.4% less than Naperville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Great Falls, you would need $95,455 in Naperville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
Great Falls
130
Naperville
Groceries
99
Great Falls
104
Naperville
Utilities
90
Great Falls
99
Naperville
Transportation
95
Great Falls
116
Naperville
Healthcare
92
Great Falls
101
Naperville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Great Falls has the same purchasing power as $95,455 in Naperville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Naperville equals $58,929 in Great Falls.

Living in Great Falls vs Naperville

Housing Costs

Great Falls's housing index of 82 is lower Naperville's 130, translating to median home prices of $325,000 vs $430,000. The $105,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,828 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Great Falls compared to $1,800/mo in Naperville, a monthly difference of $750.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Great Falls and 104 in Naperville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Great Falls 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 90 in Great Falls and 99 in Naperville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $360 in Great Falls vs $396 in Naperville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 92 in Great Falls and 101 in Naperville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $55,800 in Great Falls and $118,254 in Naperville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,409 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 $1,302/month to housing in Great Falls vs $2,759/month in Naperville. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/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 48 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Great Falls is 21.4% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 112.
A $75,000 salary in Great Falls has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $95,455 in Naperville, based on the cost of living difference.
Great Falls's housing index is 82 with median homes at $325,000, while Naperville's is 130 with median homes at $430,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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