2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Waukegan, IL vs Decatur, IL

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Decatur or is it cheaper to live in Waukegan?
- Decatur is 24.8% less expensive than Waukegan.

Which city has more affordable housing, Decatur or Waukegan?
- Decatur housing costs are 60.0% less expensive than Waukegan housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Waukegan or is Health Care more affordable in Decatur.
- Health related expenses are 15.3% more in Decatur.
 Waukegan, ILDecatur, ILUnited States
 Overall  Unlock72.9100
 Food & Groceries94.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock111.0100
 Housing58.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$83,400$338,100
 Utilities93  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock70.0100
 Miscellaneous141.0  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Waukegan    3 Reviews

Great people, beautifully diverse. All live and work together to provide the best for all residents. Lake County College is completing a 40 million dollar building  More

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Over 12 years ago

We're looking for a moderate climate. Waukegan is on Lake Michigan and could have a dynamic vibrant downtown but it doesn't. Great master plan if somehow Waukegan can  More

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Over 17 years ago

I have been living in north east waukegan for 12 years and I am excited by the recent surge of growth in the downtown area. Thanks to the Genesee theater, there are  More

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Reviews for Decatur    14 Reviews

I was sent here by the company I worked for in the '90's and was not initially impressed with midwest living. However, over the years I got used to living in the "Pride  More

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I grew up in Decatur and I still have family there, but it depresses me to see what it has become. It has a high unemployment rate, many business have closed or are run  More

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Over 14 years ago

If you enjoy drinking & driving, Decatur's fifteen drive-thru liquor windows, three times the # of drive-thru's than the ten largest cities in Illinois, COMBINED, will  More

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