Clifton, IL vs Shell Rock, IA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Shell Rock, IA has a modeled overall cost index 11.5% lower than Clifton, IL.

Clifton, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,020 / month
Shell Rock, IA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,020 / 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 Clifton, IL and Shell Rock, IA 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 Clifton, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,050/month in Shell Rock, IA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $137,404 in Shell Rock, IA

Regional cost estimates: Clifton, IL uses Chicago, IL. Shell Rock, IA uses Des Moines, IA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 11.5%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,050

Savings

Annual Impact

$12.6K

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.

Clifton, IL

Population:1K

Cost Index:

87.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$210K

Shell Rock, IA

Population:1K

Cost Index:

77.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$218K

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Clifton, IL

The Prairie State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Shell Rock, IA

The Hawkeye State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Iowa, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Clifton, IL vs Shell Rock, IA

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	Clifton, IL	Shell Rock, IA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,411/mo	$1,737/mo	↓ $674less	28.0%
Transportation	$1,468/mo	$1,154/mo	↓ $314less	21.4%
Healthcare	$579/mo	$684/mo	↑ $105more	18.1%
Groceries	$1,002/mo	$912/mo	↓ $89.37less	8.9%
Other	$1,536/mo	$1,492/mo	↓ $43.62less	2.8%
All Utilities	$505/mo	$471/mo	↓ $33.74less	6.7%

Housing

↓ 28.0%

Clifton, IL

$2,411

Shell Rock, IA

$1,737

Difference

$674

less

Transportation

↓ 21.4%

Clifton, IL

$1,468

Shell Rock, IA

$1,154

Difference

$314

less

Healthcare

↑ 18.1%

Clifton, IL

$579

Shell Rock, IA

$684

Difference

$105

Groceries

↓ 8.9%

Clifton, IL

$1,002

Shell Rock, IA

$912

Difference

$89.37

less

Other

↓ 2.8%

Clifton, IL

$1,536

Shell Rock, IA

$1,492

Difference

$43.62

less

All Utilities

↓ 6.7%

Clifton, IL

$505

Shell Rock, IA

$471

Difference

$33.74

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$770

To$740

↓ $30.00

1 Bed

From$780

To$780

→ $0

2 Bed

From$1,020

To$1,020

→ $0

3 Bed

From$1,260

To$1,260

→ $0

Clifton, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

Shell Rock, IAZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/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 Clifton, IL

$6,450

Monthly in Shell Rock, IA

$1,050

Difference

Home Values

Clifton

Shell Rock

$210K

Median Value

$218K

↑ +8%

YoY Change

↑ +3.6%

↑ +37.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +35%

Homes in Shell Rock are 4% more expensive than Clifton

Calculate payment - Clifton Calculate payment - Shell Rock

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $3.3K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$273

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.2%

Rate difference

Clifton, 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

Shell Rock, 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

Additional Tax Information

Clifton, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Shell Rock, IA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:1.5%

💡 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

Clifton

Shell Rock

54 Moderate

Air Quality

45 Good

35.8%

Good Air Days

67.5%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

92 Moderate

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌡☀🌪

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

25 days

Before moving from Clifton, IL to Shell Rock, IA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Shell Rock, IA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Clifton, 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 Clifton to Shell Rock moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Shell Rock, IA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Clifton, IL vs Shell Rock, IA

How do the cost estimates for Clifton, IL and Shell Rock, IA compare?

Shell Rock, IA has a modeled overall cost index 11.5% lower than Clifton, 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 Clifton, IL, the model estimates $137,404 in Shell Rock, IA. 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 Clifton, IL and Shell Rock, IA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,020/month in Clifton, IL and $1,020/month in Shell Rock, IA. 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 Illinois and Iowa on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

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