Relocation profile · Federal data
Champaign-Urbana, IL
LiveAbility 59.3/100 places Champaign-Urbana #65 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 92.7
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,122
- 2BR rent / mo
- $66,936
- Median salary
- 59.3
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Champaign-Urbana ranks #65 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (59.3/100), with its strongest marks in housing and job market.
- #65
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 12,710,158
- metro-area population
- 277
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 3,845
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (27/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Champaign-Urbana ranks #65 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 92.7 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,122/mo, median salary $66,936; LiveAbility Score 59.3/100, strongest in housing and job market.
Signature: LiveAbility 59.3/100 places Champaign-Urbana #65 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 92.7 between corpus terciles 91.5 and 97.0. Median 2BR rent $1,122/mo.
LiveAbility 59.3/100 puts Champaign-Urbana in the top third (#65 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Champaign-Urbana area is 94,460.
Champaign-Urbana vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
59 Top 17% higher than 83% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Champaign-Urbana housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Champaign-Urbana MSA; housing RPP 71.6 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,122/mo.
Champaign-Urbana wages and employment
Champaign-Urbana posts 94,460 total employment with median salary $66,936.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $90,230 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,300 |
| Cashiers | $32,130 |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $50,110 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $39,000 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Champaign-Urbana area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Champaign-Urbana area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Champaign-Urbana's composite Life Score is 56.6/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Champaign-Urbana ranks #65 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 59.3/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Champaign-Urbana - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
77 /100
- Job market
Job market
73 /100
- Safety
Safety
65 /100
- Schools
Schools
64 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
57 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
51 /100
- Climate
Climate
43 /100
- Low hazard 27
Low hazard
27 /100
What this shows Champaign-Urbana's strongest dimensions are housing and job market; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 27/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Champaign-Urbana to
Metros near Champaign-Urbana on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Champaign-Urbana on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Champaign-Urbana cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Champaign-Urbana wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Champaign-Urbana?
Champaign-Urbana runs a $66,936 median salary at a 92.7 cost index, ranking #65 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Champaign-Urbana's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Champaign-Urbana head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Champaign-Urbana
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.