Bicknell, IN vs Johnston City, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Johnston City, IL has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% higher than Bicknell, IN.

Bicknell, IN · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / month
Johnston City, IL · modeled 2BR rent
$930 / 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 Bicknell, IN and Johnston City, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $268/month in Johnston City, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,214 in Johnston City, IL

Regional cost estimates: Bicknell, IN uses Louisville, KY. Johnston City, IL uses St. Louis, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 6.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$268
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.2K
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.

Bicknell, IN

Population:3K
Cost Index:
75.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$96K

Johnston City, IL

Population:3K
Cost Index:
80.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$95K

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Bicknell, IN

The Hoosier State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Indiana, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Johnston City, IL

The Prairie State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bicknell, IN vs Johnston City, 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.

Other
↑ 10.8%
Bicknell, IN
$1,707
Johnston City, IL
$1,890
Difference
$184
more
All Utilities
↑ 20.7%
Bicknell, IN
$544
Johnston City, IL
$657
Difference
$113
more
Housing
↓ 3.8%
Bicknell, IN
$2,058
Johnston City, IL
$1,981
Difference
$77.28
less
Groceries
↑ 3.6%
Bicknell, IN
$1,124
Johnston City, IL
$1,164
Difference
$40.51
more
Transportation
↑ 1.6%
Bicknell, IN
$1,407
Johnston City, IL
$1,430
Difference
$22.79
more
Healthcare
↓ 2.2%
Bicknell, IN
$660
Johnston City, IL
$646
Difference
$14.58
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$720
To$700
↓ $20.00
1 Bed
From$730
To$710
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$960
To$930
↓ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,210
To$1,280
↑ $70.00
Bicknell, INZIP-level data

1BR range: $730–$730/mo

Johnston City, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $710–$710/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 Bicknell, IN
$7,768
Monthly in Johnston City, IL
$268
Difference

Home Values

Bicknell
Johnston City
$96K
Median Value
$95K
↑ +1.9%
YoY Change
↑ +2.4%
↑ +57.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +9.6%

Homes in Johnston City are 1% less expensive than Bicknell

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.6K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$215
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.7%
Rate difference

Bicknell, IN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Indiana State Tax
Effective: 3.2%
$4.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.9%
$41.9K
Take-Home Pay
$9,012/month
$108.1K

Johnston City, 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

Bicknell, IN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Johnston City, 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

Bicknell
Johnston City
50 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
50.8%
Good Air Days
38%
98 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
37 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
37 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days

Before moving from Bicknell, IN to Johnston City, 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 Johnston City, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bicknell, IN. 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 Bicknell to Johnston City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Bicknell, IN vs Johnston City, IL

How do the cost estimates for Bicknell, IN and Johnston City, IL compare?

Johnston City, IL has a modeled overall cost index 6.0% higher than Bicknell, IN. 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 Bicknell, IN, the model estimates $153,214 in Johnston City, 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 Bicknell, IN and Johnston City, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $960/month in Bicknell, IN and $930/month in Johnston City, 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 Indiana and Illinois on TaxTakeHome.com

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