Blue Island, IL vs Machesney Park, IL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Machesney Park, IL has a modeled overall cost index 1.1% higher than Blue Island, IL.

Blue Island, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,350 / month
Machesney Park, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,350 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Blue Island, IL and Machesney 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 Blue Island, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $175/month in Machesney Park, IL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,899 in Machesney Park, IL

Regional cost estimates: Blue Island, IL uses Chicago, IL. Machesney Park, IL uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 1.1%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$175

Savings

Annual Impact

$2.1K

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.

Blue Island, IL

Population:21K

Cost Index:

96.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$190K

Machesney Park, IL

Population:23K

Cost Index:

97.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$194K

Planning the move to Machesney Park?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Blue Island, IL

The Prairie State

21K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 21K residents.

Machesney Park, IL

The Prairie State

23K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 23K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Blue Island, IL vs Machesney 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	Blue Island, IL	Machesney Park, IL	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,489/mo	$1,297/mo	↓ $191less	12.9%
Housing	$2,446/mo	$2,286/mo	↓ $159less	6.5%
Healthcare	$557/mo	$687/mo	↑ $130more	23.3%
Other	$1,558/mo	$1,652/mo	↑ $94.20more	6.0%
Groceries	$964/mo	$917/mo	↓ $47.44less	4.9%
All Utilities	$486/mo	$486/mo	↓ $0.66less	0.1%

Transportation

↓ 12.9%

Blue Island, IL

$1,489

Machesney Park, IL

$1,297

Difference

$191

less

Housing

↓ 6.5%

Blue Island, IL

$2,446

Machesney Park, IL

$2,286

Difference

$159

less

Healthcare

↑ 23.3%

Blue Island, IL

$557

Machesney Park, IL

$687

Difference

$130

Other

↑ 6.0%

Blue Island, IL

$1,558

Machesney Park, IL

$1,652

Difference

$94.20

Groceries

↓ 4.9%

Blue Island, IL

$964

Machesney Park, IL

$917

Difference

$47.44

less

All Utilities

↓ 0.1%

Blue Island, IL

$486

Machesney Park, IL

$486

Difference

$0.66

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,120

To$930

↓ $190

1 Bed

From$1,200

To$1,030

↓ $170

2 Bed

From$1,350

To$1,350

→ $0

3 Bed

From$1,740

To$1,790

↑ $50.00

Blue Island, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,200–$1,200/mo

Machesney Park, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,030–$1,030/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 Blue Island, IL

$7,325

Monthly in Machesney Park, IL

$175

Difference

Home Values

Blue Island

Machesney Park

$190K

Median Value

$194K

↑ +1.3%

YoY Change

↑ +9.9%

↑ +37.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +58%

Homes in Machesney Park are 2% more expensive than Blue Island

Calculate payment - Blue Island Calculate payment - Machesney Park

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Blue Island, 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

Machesney 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

Blue Island, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Machesney 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

Blue Island

Machesney Park

54 Moderate

Air Quality

42 Good

35.8%

Good Air Days

72.1%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

94 Moderate

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

Before moving from Blue Island, IL to Machesney 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 Machesney Park, IL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Blue Island, IL. 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 Blue Island to Machesney Park moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Blue Island, IL vs Machesney Park, IL

How do the cost estimates for Blue Island, IL and Machesney Park, IL compare?

Machesney Park, IL has a modeled overall cost index 1.1% higher than Blue Island, IL. 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 Blue Island, IL, the model estimates $147,899 in Machesney 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 Blue Island, IL and Machesney Park, IL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,350/month in Blue Island, IL and $1,350/month in Machesney 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.