2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Galena, IL vs DeKalb, IL

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in DeKalb or is it cheaper to live in Galena?
- DeKalb is 6.6% more expensive than Galena.

Which city has more affordable housing, DeKalb or Galena?
- DeKalb housing costs are 14.9% less expensive than Galena housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Galena or is Health Care more affordable in DeKalb.
- Health related expenses are 9.9% more in DeKalb.
 Galena, ILDeKalb, ILUnited States
 Overall  Unlock88.3100
 Food & Groceries96.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock124.4100
 Housing69.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$206,000$338,100
 Utilities107  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock77.2100
 Miscellaneous118.2  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Galena    3 Reviews

We've lived in Galena for about ten years now; previously lived in Elgin, then Cary. Moving here was like heaven (with some trade offs) especially after living in  More

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Over 13 years ago

My city of Galena, IL has festivals, parades, and parties almost every weekend of the year. Our Halloween parade usually lasts around 2 hours and draws in over 10,000  More

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Galena offers art shows, antique shops, arts/crafts fairs, Civil War re-enactments, theater, concerts, and more. Every weekend, there's something cultural going on, much  More

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Reviews for Dekalb    2 Reviews

Over 17 years ago

While I love the cheaper rents then in the closer suburbs (to Chicago), the lack of high paying jobs for anyone without high degrees (Masters or higher) is  More

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As a 37 year resident of DeKalb - an escapee of the Chicago suburbs, I am pleased to write a bit about my hometown. Originally a college town in a farming community,  More

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