Altoona, IA vs Franklin Park, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Franklin Park, IL has a modeled overall cost index 12.6% higher than Altoona, IA.

Altoona, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,410 / month
Franklin Park, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,450 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Altoona, IA and Franklin Park, IL using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Altoona, IA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,209/month in Franklin Park, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $164,512 in Franklin Park, IL

Regional cost estimates: Altoona, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Franklin Park, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 12.6%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,209

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$14.5K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Altoona, IA

Population:22K

Cost Index:

85.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$312K

Franklin Park, IL

Population:18K

Cost Index:

96.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$296K

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Altoona, IA

The Hawkeye State

22K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 22K residents.

Franklin Park, IL

The Prairie State

18K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 18K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Altoona, IA vs Franklin Park, IL

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Altoona, IA	Franklin Park, IL	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,053/mo	$2,838/mo	↑ $785more	38.2%
Transportation	$1,364/mo	$1,728/mo	↑ $364more	26.7%
Healthcare	$767/mo	$648/mo	↓ $119less	15.5%
Groceries	$1,024/mo	$1,122/mo	↑ $98.04more	9.6%
Other	$1,763/mo	$1,808/mo	↑ $44.32more	2.5%
All Utilities	$529/mo	$566/mo	↑ $36.73more	6.9%

Housing

↑ 38.2%

Altoona, IA

$2,053

Franklin Park, IL

$2,838

Difference

$785

Transportation

↑ 26.7%

Altoona, IA

$1,364

Franklin Park, IL

$1,728

Difference

$364

Healthcare

↓ 15.5%

Altoona, IA

$767

Franklin Park, IL

$648

Difference

$119

less

Groceries

↑ 9.6%

Altoona, IA

$1,024

Franklin Park, IL

$1,122

Difference

$98.04

Other

↑ 2.5%

Altoona, IA

$1,763

Franklin Park, IL

$1,808

Difference

$44.32

All Utilities

↑ 6.9%

Altoona, IA

$529

Franklin Park, IL

$566

Difference

$36.73

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,140

To$1,200

↑ $60.00

1 Bed

From$1,190

To$1,290

↑ $100

2 Bed

From$1,410

To$1,450

↑ $40.00

3 Bed

From$1,920

To$1,870

↓ $50.00

Altoona, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,190/mo

Franklin Park, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Altoona, IA

$8,709

Monthly in Franklin Park, IL

$1,209

Difference

Home Values

Altoona

Franklin Park

$312K

Median Value

$296K

↑ +0.4%

YoY Change

↑ +2.9%

↑ +24.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +38.9%

Homes in Franklin Park are 5% less expensive than Altoona

Calculate payment - Altoona Calculate payment - Franklin Park

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $3.3K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$273

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.2%

Rate difference

Altoona, IA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Iowa State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.7K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.7K

Take-Home Pay

$8,524/month

$102.3K

Franklin Park, IL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Illinois State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,797/month

$105.6K

Additional Tax Information

Altoona, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:1.5%

Franklin Park, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Altoona

Franklin Park

45 Good

Air Quality

54 Moderate

67.5%

Good Air Days

35.8%

92 Moderate

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌡☀🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🫨

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.2°F

25 days

Heat Days >95°F

18 days

▲+3.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.2°F

25 days

Heat Days >95°F

18 days

Before moving from Altoona, IA to Franklin Park, IL

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Franklin Park, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Altoona, IA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Altoona to Franklin Park moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Franklin Park, IL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Altoona, IA vs Franklin Park, IL

How do the cost estimates for Altoona, IA and Franklin Park, IL compare?

Franklin Park, IL has a modeled overall cost index 12.6% higher than Altoona, IA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Altoona, IA, the model estimates $164,512 in Franklin Park, IL. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Altoona, IA and Franklin Park, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,410/month in Altoona, IA and $1,450/month in Franklin Park, IL. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Iowa and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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