Naperville vs Orem
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Naperville
Orem
The Verdict
Naperville is 4.3% less expensive than Orem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Naperville would need approximately $78,348 in Orem to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Naperville has the same purchasing power as $78,348 in Orem.
Conversely, $75,000 in Orem equals $71,795 in Naperville.
Living in Naperville vs Orem
Housing Costs
Naperville's housing index of 130 is lower Orem's 147, translating to median home prices of $430,000 vs $528,000. The $98,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,372 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,800/mo in Naperville compared to $1,400/mo in Orem, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Naperville and 98 in Orem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Naperville vs $466/month in Orem. Orem offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Naperville and 92 in Orem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Naperville vs $368 in Orem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in Naperville and 95 in Orem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $118,254 in Naperville and $86,000 in Orem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $105,584 and $73,504 respectively. Naperville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,759/month to housing in Naperville vs $2,007/month in Orem. In Naperville, median rent of $1,800/mo fits within this budget. In Orem, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 17 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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