City Comparison

Naperville vs Sandy Springs

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Naperville

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

Sandy Springs

Georgia
135
Expensive
$670,000
Median Home
$1,825/mo
Median Rent
$101,000
Median Income

The Verdict

17.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 17.0%, with Naperville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Naperville has equivalent purchasing power to $90,402 in Sandy Springs.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
130
Naperville
223
Sandy Springs
Groceries
104
Naperville
103
Sandy Springs
Utilities
99
Naperville
97
Sandy Springs
Transportation
116
Naperville
111
Sandy Springs
Healthcare
101
Naperville
105
Sandy Springs

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Naperville has the same purchasing power as $90,402 in Sandy Springs.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sandy Springs equals $62,222 in Naperville.

Living in Naperville vs Sandy Springs

Housing Costs

Naperville's housing index of 130 is lower Sandy Springs's 223, translating to median home prices of $430,000 vs $670,000. The $240,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,600 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,800/mo in Naperville compared to $1,825/mo in Sandy Springs, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Naperville and 103 in Sandy Springs. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Naperville vs $489/month in Sandy Springs. 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 99 in Naperville and 97 in Sandy Springs. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Naperville vs $388 in Sandy Springs. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 101 in Naperville and 105 in Sandy Springs. 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 $101,000 in Sandy Springs. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $105,584 and $74,815 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 $2,357/month in Sandy Springs. In Naperville, median rent of $1,800/mo fits within this budget. In Sandy Springs, median rent of $1,825/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 93 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Naperville is 17.0% more affordable overall with an index of 112 vs 135.
A $75,000 salary in Naperville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $90,402 in Sandy Springs, based on the cost of living difference.
Naperville's housing index is 130 with median homes at $430,000, while Sandy Springs's is 223 with median homes at $670,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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