Bellbrook, OH vs Marengo, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Marengo, IL has a modeled overall cost index 10.1% higher than Bellbrook, OH.

Bellbrook, OH · modeled 2BR rent
$1,500 / month
Marengo, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,320 / 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 Bellbrook, OH and Marengo, 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

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Estimated extra cost: $1,143/month in Marengo, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $163,717 in Marengo, IL

Regional cost estimates: Bellbrook, OH uses Cincinnati, OH. Marengo, IL uses Chicago, IL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 10.1%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,143
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$13.7K
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.

Bellbrook, OH

Population:7K
Cost Index:
83.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$372K

Marengo, IL

Population:8K
Cost Index:
91.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$339K

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Bellbrook, OH

The Buckeye State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Marengo, IL

The Prairie State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bellbrook, OH vs Marengo, 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.

Housing
↑ 33.7%
Bellbrook, OH
$2,092
Marengo, IL
$2,798
Difference
$706
more
Transportation
↑ 25.3%
Bellbrook, OH
$1,359
Marengo, IL
$1,703
Difference
$344
more
Groceries
↑ 6.6%
Bellbrook, OH
$1,063
Marengo, IL
$1,134
Difference
$70.28
more
All Utilities
↑ 6.4%
Bellbrook, OH
$537
Marengo, IL
$572
Difference
$34.53
more
Other
↓ 0.8%
Bellbrook, OH
$1,797
Marengo, IL
$1,782
Difference
$14.77
less
Healthcare
↑ 0.5%
Bellbrook, OH
$652
Marengo, IL
$655
Difference
$2.98
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,090
To$1,100
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$1,190
To$1,170
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,500
To$1,320
↓ $180
3 Bed
From$1,950
To$1,700
↓ $250
Bellbrook, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,190/mo

Marengo, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,170–$1,170/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 Bellbrook, OH
$8,643
Monthly in Marengo, IL
$1,143
Difference

Home Values

Bellbrook
Marengo
$372K
Median Value
$339K
↑ +3.3%
YoY Change
↑ +5.8%
↑ +32.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +51.5%

Homes in Marengo are 9% less expensive than Bellbrook

Calculate payment - BellbrookCalculate payment - Marengo

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $3.0K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$250
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
2.0%
Rate difference

Bellbrook, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Marengo, 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

Bellbrook, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

Marengo, 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

Bellbrook
Marengo
52 Moderate
Air Quality
54 Moderate
44.8%
Good Air Days
35.8%
96 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
29 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.2°F
29 days
Heat Days >95°F
18 days

Before moving from Bellbrook, OH to Marengo, IL

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Marengo, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bellbrook, OH. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Bellbrook to Marengo moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Bellbrook, OH vs Marengo, IL

How do the cost estimates for Bellbrook, OH and Marengo, IL compare?

Marengo, IL has a modeled overall cost index 10.1% higher than Bellbrook, OH. 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 Bellbrook, OH, the model estimates $163,717 in Marengo, 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 Bellbrook, OH and Marengo, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,500/month in Bellbrook, OH and $1,320/month in Marengo, 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 Ohio and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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